A coalition of 46 business organizations -- including two of the largest trucking advocacy groups -- are calling on Congress to prioritize funding for the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which collapsed when it was struck earlier this year by an out of control container ship.
The bridge carried the heavily-traveled Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River near the entrance of the Baltimore Harbor. Since its collapse, traffic has been rerouted to severl detours, adding extra time to travel.
The coalition's letter to Congress, which was signed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the American Trucking Associations, asks Congress to prioritize funding to the Department of Transportation’s Emergency Relief Program to replace the bridge “and other critical national assets impacted by unforeseen disasters.”
In it's letter, which was sent Sept. 12, the coalition said of the bridge, "its loss has created a severe bottleneck for the region that impacts thousands of businesses and commuters, including those who rely on the Port of Baltimore,.Truckers and commuters are now traveling up to two hours to access the Port of Baltimore and other areas in eastern Maryland, impacting the local and national economy.”
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed March 25 when one of it supports was struck by the fully loaded container ship Dali, which had lost power shortly after beginning to head out of the port. Part of the bridge's steel structure landed on the Dali, leaving it and its crew stranded.
Eight workers were on the bridge at the time repairing is road surface. Six of the died in the collapse.
It's expected construction of a new bridge will begin early in 2025 and be done by the fall of 2028.
