After a cargo vessel plowed into a column and destroyed portions of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, online retail giant Amazon is examining the company's operational challenges, as traffic faces severe disruptions.
Early Tuesday, a cargo ship named Dali traveling to Sri Lanka struck the bridge, forcing parts of the span to crumble into the Patapsco River. Images show the bridge foundation shattered into several pieces, with sections jutting out above the river. Authorities say there were eight construction workers on the bridge and that they had accounted for two, while still searching for the other six.
"This is very much still an active search-and-rescue mission," Maryland Governor Wes Moore said at a press conference. "We are still actively looking for survivors."
Maryland's Transportation Authority has issued an alert advising drivers to avoid the area and suggesting alternative routes.
"I-695 Key Bridge has collapsed due to ship strike. Motorists must avoid this southeast corridor of I-695. I-695 Outer Loop closed at MD 10 (exit 2) and Inner Loop closed at MD 157/Peninsula Expressway (exit 43)," it said on its website. "Harbor Crossings alternate routes will be I-95 or I-895 tunnels."
More than 30,000 vehicles are estimated to cross the bridge daily, with traffic volume at more than 11 million a year, according to local authorities.
Its closure will disrupt movement, and Amazon, the e-commerce titan that also delivers goods to consumers, said it was working to determine the impact that the bridge collapse will have on its operations in the area.
"Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the bridge collapse and the first responders assisting in the rescue and recovery efforts," Richard Rocha, Amazon spokesperson, told Newsweek in a statement. "We're assessing the immediate and future impacts to our employees and delivery partners, as well as the surrounding community and will make any adjustments to our operations that are needed. We also stand ready to support the community in any way we can."
It's unclear how much time it will take to rebuild the Key bridge, which opened in 1977 after five years of construction, costing more than $60 million.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday suggested that the federal government was prepared to foot the bill to rebuild it.
"It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect—the Congress to support my effort," he told reporters.
The president pointed out that the Francis Scott Key Bridge is a crucial economic connector in the region.
"The bridge is also critical to—for travel, not just for Baltimore but for the Northeast Corridor," Biden said. "It's one of the most important elements for the economy in the Northeast and the quality of life."
"This is going to take some time. And the people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt," the president added.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Omar Mohammed is a Newsweek reporter based in the Greater Boston area. His focus is reporting on the Economy and ... Read more
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