President Biden is set to make a visit to the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore this coming Friday, as announced by the White House on Monday.
“We stand with you, Baltimore, and we are committed to getting this done,” declared Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, while announcing the news.
According to Jean-Pierre, Biden is actively spearheading a comprehensive government strategy to address the aftermath of the collapse. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of six lives and the temporary closure of one of our nation’s busiest ports. Jean-Pierre mentioned that Biden has been collaborating closely with Moore to expedite the reopening of the port and the reconstruction of the bridge.
The cargo ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Interstate 695, causing it to collapse into the water around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The cargo ship was en route to Sri Lanka at the time of the incident.
Biden has made a promise that the federal government will cover the costs to reconstruct the bridge. However, this plan has faced criticism from conservative spending hawks. The Department of Transportation has already allocated $16 million for the bridge, which Jean-Pierre referred to as a “down payment.”
The White House will maintain ongoing discussions with Congress regarding assistance, affirming the president’s dedication to taking all necessary measures to ensure the reconstruction of that bridge.
Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su made her way to Baltimore on Monday to engage in meetings with stakeholders, as confirmed by Jean-Pierre. Similarly, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also traveled to Baltimore on the very day when the collapse occurred.
The Port of Baltimore is currently unable to provide a timeline for reopening, as officials have stated that it will take a significant amount of time to rebuild the bridge.
