Baltimore Harbor Channel to Fully Reopen by June 10

Restoration of the Baltimore Harbor’s 700-foot-wide and 50-foot-deep channel is expected to conclude between June 8 and 10. The channel has been closed since March 26, when the cargo ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse. The incident resulted in six construction workers' deaths and halted most maritime traffic through Baltimore’s port.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partially reopened the Federal Channel last month and aims to fully reopen it by the weekend. Efforts include clearing wreckage, digging out the bottom cord of the remaining truss, cutting it, and lifting it from the water.

“We are not taking our foot off the gas,” said Col. Estee S. Pinchasin, USACE, Baltimore District Commander. “We are pushing forward as quickly and safely as possible to reach 700 feet and ensure we remove all wreckage to prevent any impact on future navigation.”

Crews continue to cut and lift large chunks of the bridge to restore the channel fully. The Army Corps now expects the full Federal Channel to open by June 10, slightly later than the original late May target, due to the complexity of the cutting and rigging required and potential inclement weather.

�� The current specs of the Unified Command's “limited access channel” (50-foot depth x 400-foot width) allow all shipping traffic to enter/exit the @portofbalt, and these final lifts are an important next step to re-opening the full 700-foot width of the navigation channel. pic.twitter.com/RBHTmeNO4f

— USACE Baltimore (@USACEBaltimore) June 3, 2024

The state plans to have the bridge fully repaired by 2028, with a price tag of $1.7 billion-to-$1.9 billion, though who will foot the bill is still up for debate.

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