Temporary Channel to Open in Port of Baltimore

A temporary alternate channel will be opened in the vicinity of the Francis Scott Key Bridge which collapsed last week, for commercially essential vessels, officials in Baltimore announced Sunday.

Wreckage has been blocking a vital shipping lane since Tuesday when the bridge collapsed after being hit by a massive cargo ship.

“This will mark an important first step along the road to reopening the port of Baltimore,” said Capt. David O’Connell, federal on-scene coordinator, Key Bridge Response 2024, in a statement. “By opening this alternate route, we will support the flow of marine traffic into Baltimore.”

This action is part of a phased approach to opening the main channel. The temporary channel will be marked with government lighted aids to navigation and will have a controlling depth of 11 feet, a 264-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance 96 feet.

During an appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation, Sunday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that restoring traffic in the port is essential for the national supply chain.