Demolition of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore
Engineers used high explosive charges to demolish the largest remaining piece of the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, in order to clear the way for reopening the river. The bridge collapsed in March when the Dali container ship lost power and collided with a support column, killing six workers. The demolition charges have allowed for progress in clearing the main Federal Channel to restore full capacity to Baltimore Harbour.
Key Points
- Demolition of the bridge truss using precision cutting charges.
- Removal of obstructing pieces from the Dali container ship.
- Efforts to clear the main Federal Channel to allow large ships to access Baltimore Harbour.
Pros
- Clears the way for reopening the Patapsco River and restoring full capacity to Baltimore Harbour.
- Speeds up the process of clearing the channel for large cargo ships to navigate through.
Cons
- Loss of historical infrastructure with the demolition of the bridge.
- Initial delay due to bad weather.