“The Army Corps of Engineers has had one primary mission since the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26: clear a channel to resume shipping operations. The results have been profound and faster than expected. I want to congratulate the Army Corps for its leadership and expert work, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, the remarkable salvage contractors from across the nation, and others, working together throughout this difficult process. Today, it was announced that a channel with a controlling depth of 35 feet will be open, allowing many larger commercial vessels to resume operations with tugboat escorts and a Maryland pilot on board. The port’s main channel, which pre-Dali, had a controlling depth of 50 feet, should reopen next month. Federal, state and local officials have been working shoulder-to-shoulder since day one of this unthinkable event. This partnership will remain strong until the Port of Baltimore is fully restored, and a new bridge stands tall in the Baltimore skyline.”

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