US awards Maryland US$60 million to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge
- Formal details of funding is expected on Thursday evening. Federal award comes after Maryland governor sought the funding
- Governor promised that ‘best minds in the world’ were working on plans to clear debris, recover four missing bodies and investigate what went wrong
The US government awarded the state of Maryland US$60 million in federal emergency relief on Thursday in response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, an extraordinarily fast disbursement after such a disaster.
The bridge came tumbling down early on Tuesday after a massive cargo freighter that had lost power ploughed into the structure in Baltimore Harbour. Two bodies have been recovered and four other missing people are presumed dead.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore had requested the US$60 million earlier on Thursday and the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration approved the request within hours.
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Such funding typically takes days, but US President Joe Biden told reporters on Tuesday that he directed the federal government to “move heaven and earth” to quickly rebuild the bridge.
“These funds serve as a down payment toward initial costs, and additional Emergency Relief programme funding will be made available as work continues,” the transport department said in a statement.
Initial estimates of the reconstruction costs, which is likely to be paid by the federal government, are at US$600 million, economic software analysis company IMPLAN said.
But federal officials have told Maryland lawmakers the cost could soar to at least US$2 billion, The Hill reported, citing a source familiar with the discussions.
