Latest news with #FrancisPera
CBS News
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Key Bridge collapse update expected Thursday as crash nears a year
The National Transportation Safety Board will give an update on the investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Thursday as we near the one-year mark. On March 26, 2024, the container ship Dali lost power before crashing into the bridge, killing six construction workers who were knocked into the Patapsco River. The NTSB's investigation to this point has focused on a series of power failures on Dali as it departed the Port of Baltimore. The report revealed the ship experienced four outages in a span of less than 12 which left the ship unable to maneuver and avoid the bridge. The preliminary NTSB report outlined the events leading up to the Dali striking the Key Bridge. The report revealed that the Dali initially lost power on March 25, 2024, during in-port maintenance, about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore. Vessel power was restored before a second blackout in-port followed, according to the NTSB report. The vessel departed from the Seagirt Marine Terminal at the Port of Baltimore shortly after 12:30 a.m. en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, carrying 4,680 containers. The captain reported that the ship was in "good working order" and was assisted by two tugboats. The ship then lost electrical power and experienced another blackout. The main propulsion diesel engine shut down automatically after the pumps lost electrical power, meaning the vessel's propeller stopped. The Dali crew again restored electrical power. The ship's crew called for tug assistance and the senior pilot ordered the anchor to be dropped. Then, a fourth blackout happened, according to the report. A marine radio call was made to warn all waterborne traffic before the cargo vessel crashed into the central truss spans of the Key Bridge around 1:29 a.m. Earlier this month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued its permit decisions which granted the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) permission to rebuild the Key Bridge. Some of the permissions include specific parameters for dredging in the water, modifications and discharging any dredged or fill material. In-water construction of the new bridge, which will connect the I-695 Baltimore Beltway, is expected to begin in the fall of 2024, but that will also require similar permit verification from the U.S. Coast Guard. The rebuild is expected to be completed by fall 2028. Kiewit Infrastructure estimated that the project will cost about $2 billion. "Less than one year after the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore District is proud to have provided fair and efficient permitting efforts to enable the construction of a new bridge," Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera said. "To have both removed the bridge wreckage and issued relevant permits for its reconstruction on this timetable is a testament to our dedicated Regulatory Branch and our mission to support an energetic economy across the Mid-Atlantic." For about two months, the MDTA has been working on pre-construction activities around the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which involves gathering data about the riverbed and soil sampling. In February 2025, the MDTA authorized three contracts for the Key Bridge reconstruction, which are for construction management and inspection services worth $20 million each. The Maryland Board of Public Works approved contracts with Greenman-Pederson, Inc./Gannett Fleming, Inc.; Michael Baker International, Inc./STV, Inc.; and AECOM Technical Services, Inc. The consulting teams will oversee various aspects of the reconstruction, including constructability reviews, inspections of erosion control, traffic maintenance, materials testing, and scheduling. They will work alongside MDTA's General Engineering Consultant and Kiewit Infrastructure Co., the project's design builder. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the MDTA unveiled the design for the new Key Bridge. The latest build will visually mimic the original bridge's architecture while having structural improvements. Plans for the new Key Bridge reveal significant changes to accommodate larger vessels, with the shipping channel expanding from 700 to 1,000 feet wide under a cable stay design. The bridge's clearance will increase by 45 feet, reaching a height of 230 feet above the water, to allow for greater ship traffic. After the collapse, former President Joe Biden said he would push the federal government to pay for the cost of the bridge's reconstruction, later approving $60 million in emergency relief funding to recover debris from the Patapsco River. In November 2024, money for the rebuild was included in a $100 billion disaster fund request sent to Congress. In December 2024, lawmakers announced that federal funding would cover the full cost of the rebuild.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Army Corps of Engineers issues permit to rebuild Key Bridge
BALTIMORE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted a permit to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, nearly one year after a container ship struck its center span and caused its devastating collapse into the Patapsco River. The permit grants the Maryland Transportation Authority 'permission to construct the bridge that will reconnect the I-695 Baltimore Beltway and improve community accessibility lost following the collapse of the original structure that claimed the lives of six Baltimoreans,' according to a news release Thursday from the Baltimore District of the Army Corps of Engineers. The regulatory branch of the Army Corps issued two permits last year allowing for preliminary construction tasks, including explosive demolition and removing the remaining portions of the old bridge. 'Less than one year after the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore District is proud to have provided fair and efficient permitting efforts to enable the construction of a new bridge,' said Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera, in a statement. 'To have both removed the bridge wreckage and issued relevant permits for its reconstruction on this timetable is a testament to our dedicated Regulatory Branch and our commitment to support an energetic economy across the Mid-Atlantic.' Gov. Wes Moore unveiled the design for the new bridge last month. It will be a taller cable-stayed bridge and is expected to be completed by October 2028. Nebraska-based construction giant Kiewit Corp. was selected last summer as the bridge's designer and builder. The new bridge is estimated to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, with full federal funding expected to foot the bill, according to state officials. Its design includes reinforced pier foundations, pier protection islands and six structural 'dolphins' for increased protection. Construction of a temporary trestle to allow construction access is expected to begin this summer. The trestle will require the installation of some 1,200 36-inch steel piles covering an area of 400,000 square feet with the top of the pile being 10 feet above the Patapsco's mean high-water line, according to the Army Corps. The Army Corps expects the in-water construction of the new Key Bridge to begin in early fall 2025. ________
CBS News
07-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
U.S. Army of Engineers issues permit for reconstruction of Key Bridge
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued its permit decisions which grant the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) permission to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed on March 26, 2024. Some of the permissions include specific parameters for dredging in the water, modifications, and discharging any dredged or fill material. In-water construction of the new bridge, which will connect the I-695 Baltimore Beltway, is expected to begin in the fall of 2024, but that will also require similar permit verification from the U.S. Coast Guard. The rebuild is expected to be completed by fall 2028. Kiewit Infrastructure estimated that the project will cost about $2 billion. "Less than one year after the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore District is proud to have provided fair and efficient permitting efforts to enable the construction of a new bridge," Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera said. "To have both removed the bridge wreckage and issued relevant permits for its reconstruction on this timetable is a testament to our dedicated Regulatory Branch and our mission to support an energetic economy across the Mid-Atlantic." According to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, authorization for construction in or over any navigable water of the United States, including dredging or disposal of dredged materials, excavation, or any other modification, is required from the secretary of the Army, acting through USACE. For about two months, the MDTA has been working on pre-construction activities around the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which involves gathering data about the riverbed and soil sampling. Key Bridge collapse Around 1:30 a.m. on March 26, 2025, the cargo ship Dali lost power before crashing into the Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and knocking eight construction workers into the Patapsco River. Five of the construction workers died. The bridge collapse blocked the main passageway to the Port of Baltimore for weeks. Finally, on June 11, larger commercial vessels were permitted to pass through. MDTA authorizes construction contracts In February 2025, the MDTA authorized three contracts for the Key Bridge reconstruction, which are for construction management and inspection services worth $20 million each. The Maryland Board of Public Works approved contracts with Greenman-Pederson, Inc./Gannett Fleming, Inc.; Michael Baker International, Inc./STV, Inc.; and AECOM Technical Services, Inc. The consulting teams will oversee various aspects of the reconstruction, including constructability reviews, inspections of erosion control, traffic maintenance, materials testing, and scheduling. They will work alongside MDTA's General Engineering Consultant and Kiewit Infrastructure Co., the project's design builder. Key Bridge design Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the MDTA unveiled the design for the new Key Bridge. The latest build will visually mimic the original bridge's architecture while having structural improvements. Plans for the new Key Bridge reveal significant changes to accommodate larger vessels, with the shipping channel expanding from 700 to 1,000 feet wide under a cable stay design. The bridge's clearance will increase by 45 feet, reaching a height of 230 feet above the water, to allow for greater ship traffic. How will the bridge be funded? After the collapse, former President Joe Biden said he would push the federal government to pay for the cost of the bridge's reconstruction, later approving $60 million in emergency relief funding to recover debris from the Patapsco River. In November 2024, money for the rebuild was included in a $100 billion disaster fund request sent to Congress. In December 2024, lawmakers announced that federal funding would cover the full cost of the rebuild.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Army Corps of Engineers issues permit to rebuild Key Bridge
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted a permit to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, nearly one year after a container ship struck its center span and caused its devastating collapse into the Patapsco River. The permit grants the Maryland Transportation Authority 'permission to construct the bridge that will reconnect the I-695 Baltimore Beltway and improve community accessibility lost following the collapse of the original structure that claimed the lives of six Baltimoreans,' according to a news release Thursday from the Baltimore District of the Army Corps of Engineers. The regulatory branch of the Army Corps issued two permits last year allowing for preliminary construction tasks, including explosive demolition and removing the remaining portions of the old bridge. 'Less than one year after the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore District is proud to have provided fair and efficient permitting efforts to enable the construction of a new bridge,' said Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera, in a statement. 'To have both removed the bridge wreckage and issued relevant permits for its reconstruction on this timetable is a testament to our dedicated Regulatory Branch and our commitment to support an energetic economy across the Mid-Atlantic.' Gov. Wes Moore unveiled the design for the new bridge last month. It will be a taller cable-stayed bridge and is expected to be completed by October 2028. Nebraska-based construction giant Kiewit Corp. was selected last summer as the bridge's designer and builder. The new bridge is estimated to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, with full federal funding expected to foot the bill, according to state officials. Its design includes reinforced pier foundations, pier protection islands and six structural 'dolphins' for increased protection. Construction of a temporary trestle to allow construction access is expected to begin this summer. The trestle will require the installation of some 1,200 36-inch steel piles covering an area of 400,000 square feet with the top of the pile being 10 feet above the Patapsco's mean high-water line, according to the Army Corps. The Army Corps expects the in-water construction of the new Key Bridge to begin in early fall 2025. Have a news tip? Contact Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at nzimmerman@
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
D.C. midair crash update: Potomac River opens as salvage operations end early
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The Potomac River is open again after federal recovery teams concluded their salvage operations following the deadly collision between a commercial airliner and a U.S. Army helicopter on Jan. 29. Officials for the unified command consisting of the Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy's Supervisor of Salvage and Diving on Tuesday announced the completion of the recovery effort on Tuesday and six days sooner than expected. "With wreckage removal and demobilization behind us, the Potomac is once again safe for navigation," said USACE Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera. "It is our hope that this helps provide the region a small sense of normalcy following this tragic event." Dive operations on Monday confirmed all major components from the two aircraft were recovered. "We are proud of the unified efforts and partnerships that endured through this response and helped make this mission successful," Pera said of the recovery effort. "Each day, we thought of those who lost their lives, their loved ones and the many incident responders impacted by this tragic event." The midair collision on the evening of Jan. 29 killed all 64 passengers and crew on American Airlines-owned American Eagle Flight 5342 and all three soldiers aboard the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The airliner was attempting to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Va., while the crew aboard the Army helicopter were training for nighttime operations when they collided at a low altitude over the Potomac River. Salvage crews recovered all bodies on Feb. 4 and the last large pieces of wreckage on Thursday. All wreckage removed from the crash site was transported to a secure location to be laid out and examined by the National Transportation Safety Board that is investigating the accident and will determine if changes are needed to prevent similar deadly collisions. Some small pieces of either aircraft might be found in the Potomac or Anacostia rivers or along their shorelines. Anyone who might come across such items immediately should call 911 to report them and not touch or remove any items, according to the USACE.
