2024-03-29T06:51:10+00:00
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/ The US government granted the state of Maryland $60 million in emergency federal relief yesterday, Thursday, after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after a massive cargo ship that lost power collided with the bridge structure in the Port of Baltimore. Two bodies were recovered and four others are presumed missing.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore requested $60 million, and the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration approved the request within hours.
Approval of this funding usually takes days, but President Joe Biden said he directed the federal government to “make every effort” to quickly rebuild the bridge.
“These funds are a down payment to cover initial costs, and additional funding will be provided for the emergency relief program as work continues,” the Ministry of Transport said in a statement.
The economic software analysis firm I.M.Plan said that preliminary estimates of the reconstruction costs, which are likely to be borne by the federal government, amount to $600 million.
But federal officials told Maryland lawmakers the cost could rise to at least $2 billion, The Hill reported, citing a source familiar with the discussions.