In a tragic incident that has raised significant safety concerns, federal investigators have disclosed that the six construction workers who perished in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse might have survived had they been adequately warned.
This revelation is part of a series of new findings.
According to Straight Arrow News, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has provided a comprehensive account of the events leading up to the catastrophic collision in March 2024, when a cargo ship collided with the Baltimore bridge. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed her dismay, stating, "This tragedy should have never occurred; lives should have never been lost," and described the disaster as "entirely preventable."
The investigation highlighted a critical communication failure: police officers stationed at the bridge's end failed to notify the construction team's inspector that the Dali, a 984-foot container ship, had lost power and was veering off course. Scott Parent, an NTSB highway factors engineer, noted that the workers would have had 1 minute and 29 seconds to escape if they had received an emergency alert. Instead, a delay occurred as one officer intended to warn the crew only after being relieved by another officer, a lapse that investigators believe resulted in the loss of lives.
The workers' vehicles were positioned southward, with the crew member furthest from safety needing to traverse 2,928 feet to reach a secure location. Unfortunately, the crucial warning never materialized. The investigation also uncovered a series of mechanical failures that left the Dali unable to regain control. Homendy likened the complexity of the investigation to "looking for a loose bolt in the Eiffel Tower," given the ship's vast size and intricate wiring.
Moreover, the Maryland Transportation Authority had not conducted a mandatory vulnerability assessment to evaluate whether the Key Bridge required additional safeguards against vessel impacts. NTSB board members underscored the absence of protective barriers on the bridge, despite established national guidelines for mitigating the risk of catastrophic collapse. In response, the agency is issuing 17 new safety recommendations.
Maryland officials have also announced that the reconstruction of the Key Bridge will extend two years beyond the initial timeline, with completion now anticipated in 2030. The projected costs have surged to between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, a significant increase from the original $1.9 billion estimate.
Officials attribute the rise to escalating material costs, tariffs, and a more robust protective design intended to shield the future bridge from potential ship strikes.
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