UPDATE 2 Multimedia Release: Unified Command commenced bridge wreckage removal for Key Bridge Response 2024

Saturday, March 30, 2024

BALTIMORE – The Unified Command commenced cutting operations Saturday to remove wreckage from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Highly trained demolition crews are cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge truss. Two crane barges, a 650-ton crane and a 330-ton crane, are actively working on scene. The removed wreckage is scheduled to be lifted and transferred to a barge this evening as daylight allows. A 230-ton land-based crane will offload and process the wreckage at Tradepoint Atlantic and will then be taken to a disposal site.

Highly trained demolition crews begin cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 2024. Salvage teams use exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon)

The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command includes the:

U.S. Coast Guard  

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Maryland Department of the Environment  

Maryland Transportation Authority 

Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Marine

Maryland State Police 

A website with incident response information can be found at the following URL:  

https://www.keybridgeresponse2024.com 

The media is requested to call the Joint Information Center at 410-631-8939 for interview response inquiries and interviews.  

Resources are available for businesses and individuals impacted by the Port closure:

Benefit Line for Port of Baltimore Workers: +1 (667) 930 5989

Disaster Loan Assistance: https://lending.sba.gov   

Debris Reporting Hotline: +1 (410) 205-6625

The Unified Command’s operational priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, accountability of missing persons, safely restoring transportation infrastructure and commerce, protecting the environment, and supporting the investigation. 

A Coast Guard Station Crisfield 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew observes as highly trained demolition crews cut the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 2024. Salvage teams used an exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves)

Salvage operations on the Francis Scott Key Bridge commenced March 30, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland. Salvage teams use an exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves)

Highly trained demolition crews began cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 2024. Salvage teams use exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves)