The planned explosion to bring down the largest remaining steel section of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has been delayed due to weather conditions, officials announced on Sunday afternoon.
For weeks, crews have been preparing to use explosives on the approximately 500-foot-long section weighing up to 600 tons. It had fallen onto the ship’s bow after the Dali lost power and collided with one of the bridge’s support columns shortly after departing from Baltimore.
Since then, the ship has been stranded amidst the debris, leading to the closure of Baltimore’s bustling port for most maritime traffic.
Officials initially rescheduled the demolition for Monday evening after lightning and rising tides prompted the postponement on Sunday.
Remnants of the collapsed bridge (Tom Brennan/Getty Images)
The collapse on March 26 claimed the lives of six members of a roadwork crew, whose bodies were recovered from the submerged wreckage last week. They were all Latino immigrants who had come to the U.S. seeking job opportunities, and they were working an overnight shift filling potholes when the bridge collapsed.
Once the controlled demolition is completed, the Dali can be floated and safely maneuvered back into the Port of Baltimore. The return to normal maritime traffic will bring relief to thousands of longshoremen, truckers, and small business owners whose work has been affected by the port’s closure.
