Access to the port of Baltimore, in the east of the USA, has completely reopened to maritime traffic, the US army announced, two and a half months after the collapse of a bridge that blocked the channel.
The United States military announced Monday that the canal has been restored “to its original operational dimensions of 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep for commercial marine traffic through the Port of Baltimore.” .
“Around 50,000 tons of bridge debris”, including steel and cement, were removed from the Patapsco River estuary, they added in a statement.
Officials said a total of 56 federal, state and local agencies participated in the rescue operations, including about 500 experts from around the world who operated a fleet of 18 barges, 22 tugs, 13 floating cranes, 10 excavators and four research boats.
On March 26, the Dali container ship suffered a breakdown and collided with the Francis Scott Key highway bridge, which collapsed. Six workers carrying out repair work on the bridge, all Latin American immigrants, died.
The 300-meter-long vessel, flying the flag of Singapore, partially blocked the access channel to the important commercial port on the east coast of the United States until it was removed on May 20.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge served an important highway in the northeastern United States, connecting the capital, Washington DC, to New York City.
Thousands of dockers, truck drivers and small business owners saw their jobs affected by the collapse of the structure.
US authorities have said they hope to rebuild the bridge by 2028.
The port of Baltimore is a hub for the new vehicle trade in the United States, with around 850,000 cars and trucks passing through in 2023, more than any other North American port.
