WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden says he wants the federal government to pay for reconstruction The Baltimore Bridge that collapsed early Tuesday morning after a large freighter sails directly into one of the piers of the bridge.
“We will work with our partners in Congress to make sure the state gets the support it needs. My intention is for the federal government to cover the entire cost of rebuilding that bridge, and I expect Congress to support my efforts.” Biden made brief remarks from the White House before heading to North Carolina.
Biden said rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River would take “some time,” but he said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, had ordered the federal government to “move heaven and earth.” reopen the port and restore the bridge “as quickly as humanly possible”.
The president also said he plans to go to Baltimore “as soon as possible.”
“Our prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident and with all the families, especially those who are currently waiting to hear from their loved ones,” Biden said. “I know every minute feels like a lifetime in this situation. You just don’t know. It’s just horrible.”
Biden said this search and rescue operation is a top priority and vessel traffic and the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice.
The Port of Baltimore is one of the largest shipping hubs in the United States and America’s top port for both importing and exporting cars and light trucks, Biden said, noting that 850,000 vehicles pass through the port each year.
“We’re going to get it up and running as soon as possible … 15,000 jobs depend on that port, and we’re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help the workers,” Biden said.
He said the bridge is “critical to travel” not just for Baltimore, but also for the Northeast Corridor, which says more than 30,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
At 1:30 a.m., several vehicles fell into the water during the collision. At least six people are still believed to be missing, Moore said at a news conference. Sonar used by rescue teams also detected at least five vehicles in the water, including three passenger cars, a cement truck and another vehicle, the governor said.
Moore also said that the Dali, which was bound for Sri Lanka from the port of Baltimore at the time of the incident, reported an “electrical problem” on board minutes before the accident. Moore described this call as saving lives.