BALTIMORE – David Broughton, the Maryland Department of Transportation spokesman told The Associated Press on Thursday it will probably take four years and cost from $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The state’s treasurer filed an insurance claim on the same day as the disaster, caused when the container ship Dali lost power and slammed into one of the bridge’s support columns, according to the AP report.
Salvage crews were working around the clock to remove wreckage as the Singapore-flagged container ship remains in place, stuck under a large section of bridge. It was reported by the AP that Port of Baltimore officials expect to remove the ship on May 10, so that waterways can once again be open to commerce.
Also on Thursday, Gov. Wes Moore released a statement on the recovery mission conducted by Unified Command: “We continue to pray for Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, his family and all those who love him, acknowledging the anguish they have experienced since the Key Bridge collapsed,” Moore said in the statement. “We pray for comfort, we pray for healing, and we pray for peace in knowing that their loved one has finally come home.
“We have said our number one directive is to bring dignified closure and comprehensive support to all of the families of the victims of the Key Bridge collapse. We will continue our relentless search to recover every victim. We ask once again to respect the family’s request for privacy during this difficult time.”