President Biden is set to visit the site of the Baltimore bridge collapse that shocked the nation last week. The collapse, caused by a colossal cargo ship plowing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulted in the tragic deaths of six people and severed a major shipping and transportation artery.
During his visit, President Biden will take an aerial tour of the wreckage, receive briefings on response efforts, and meet with the families of the construction workers who were tragically plunged into the Patapsco River along with the structure. The collapse has caused chaos in the area, snarling traffic, devastating blue-collar communities, and disrupting operations at one of America’s biggest ports.
President Biden has already pledged federal support to help the city recover from the catastrophe, including covering the entire cost of reconstructing the bridge. However, there is uncertainty surrounding whether new measures, such as an emergency funding package, will be announced during his visit.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that the president is leading a whole-of-government approach in responding to the bridge collapse and will gather more information about what aid is needed during his visit. The administration has already provided funding for harbor cleanup, emergency funding for bridge rebuilding, low-interest disaster loans for affected businesses, and efforts to monitor and manage supply chain disruptions.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a critical transportation link on the East Coast, has deeply impacted the Baltimore area. The bridge, which opened in 1977 and carried more than 30,000 vehicles a day, crumbled when a cargo vessel lost power and plowed into it. Six construction workers were missing after the collapse, with recovery efforts for the remaining workers suspended as their bodies are presumed to be encased in steel and concrete.
As President Biden prepares to visit the site of this tragic event, the nation watches to see how the administration will continue to support the people of Baltimore in their recovery efforts.
