US President Joe Biden again promised federal support for the restoration of the bridge that collapsed in Baltimore near Washington, during his yesterday's visit to the site of the accident, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
On March 26, a cargo ship crashed into one of the piers of the four-lane “Francis Scott Key“ in Baltimore Harbor, causing it to collapse, killing six people.
Biden took an aerial view of the collapse site yesterday.
„You know, from the air I saw the bridge that was split in half. But here, on the ground, I see a community that is united”, the president said during a press conference.
„Our first priority is to reopen the port. It is one of the largest shipping centers in the country. And it is America's leading port for both importing and exporting cars and light trucks – number one.“
Biden said two canals have been cleared to allow operations to resume. A third channel for commercial traffic will be open by the end of April, and full capacity will be restored by the end of May, Biden added.
„We will turn the world around to rebuild this bridge as quickly as possible. And we will do it with union labor and American steel.“
Those responsible for the collapse of the bridge will bear “full judicial responsibility under the law”, Biden assured.
According to the initial findings, there was a problem with the electrical supply of the cargo ship before the accident.