Recreational boats to pass through Key Bridge collapse site Sunday after opening of fourth temporary channel

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News/Baltimore

April 28, 2024 / 12:08 AM EDT


BALTIMORE -- A total of four temporary channels are now open following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge just over a month ago. This comes as more than 1,300 tons of steel have been salvaged from the site. On Sunday, recreational boats will be able to pass through the Key Bridge collapse salvage during specific hours.

Larry Lewis has spent the last 20 or so years on the water. He says the opportunity to pass through the collapse site is important for recreational boaters, not just chartering businesses. "We have boaters and owners who are stuck on the other side of the bridge, and some who are trying to get out for maintenance and things done," Lewis said.

Traffic through the temporary channels will be strictly one-way, with outbound movements scheduled from 3:30 to 4:30 PM and inbound from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. "There's going to be plenty of people out there that's going to be directing and keeping this a very safe and orderly passage," Lewis explained.

The opening of these channels follows the largest of four recent openings on Thursday, which restored 15% of the pre-collapse commercial activity at the Port of Baltimore. The adjustment will allow large commercial ships that were stuck to depart and others to enter, including those carrying containers, vehicles, and farm equipment.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/recreational-boats-to-pass-through-key-bridge-collapse-site-sunday-after-opening-of-fourth-channel/

[LiberalFighter]

1. Initially I was challenging recreational use

But I'm not from there and I don't know what has gone into making this possible.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Baltimore has a pretty large harbor

and I expect all up and down that river into the harbor, are marinas. The bridge that fell was pretty much the last bridge before you hit the Chesapeake Bay and so everything northwest of the bridge, was blocked from going in and out.

[Deuxcents]

4. I agree..did not see your post before #3

[Deuxcents]

3. I know life goes on but recreational boating while 2 victims have not been recovered

Could have waited a little longer out of respect to the families. Getting the debris and clearing the waterway is imperative but the weekend boaters should have stayed away a little while longer. IMO

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "but the weekend boaters should have stayed away a little while longer"

I doubt these were "weekend boaters" but people who are paying for slips within that river/harbor (including those who actually live on their boats as a home) that need to get their boats moved out for repair/maintenance or get them back to their slips from other locations via the Chesapeake Bay. I had a cousin who had a boat down there in that area, who lived on it for a few years.

I think they are restricting who is coming in and out and the small boats are going along a channel that is very shallow (probably 15 - 20ft or less deep) that is probably the closest to the shore adjacent to a section of a remnant of suspended roadway.

The 2 remaining worker bodies are somewhere near the center of the river under bridge arch debris and retrieving them has been a difficult process with the need for cutting up the submerged bridge support structure into pieces "small enough" to lift with a crane. The water there is also turgid and storms in the area (it's the season) have made it difficult for divers to even "see" a few feet under water.