Bridge collapse impacts Baltimore residents and calls for safety reassessment

On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by the container ship Dali, which had lost power. The incident resulted in the tragic deaths of six construction workers. This catastrophic event has continued to affect nearly half of the residents in the Baltimore area, with many experiencing disruptions in their daily lives and businesses suffering from decreased traffic. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that access to the Port of Baltimore was restricted, causing delays in important import and export activities. Nearly a year later, Johns Hopkins University's report highlighted ongoing distress among residents, with significant impacts felt by those living closest to the bridge. Over 60% of survey participants within three miles of the bridge stated that it continues to affect their lives. The study showed that the consequences of the collapse reached across various racial and socioeconomic groups, underscoring the vital role the bridge played in the area's infrastructure. The majority of residents surveyed expressed confidence in the government's ability to rebuild the bridge, although many believe the projected four-year timeline is overly optimistic. The rebuilding efforts are estimated to cost around $2 billion, and while pre-construction activities like soil samples and home inspections commenced in January 2025, the anticipation is that the process may take longer than expected. Issues such as increased ship sizes and limited protections for bridge piers also raise concerns about bridge safety throughout the region. Authorities failed to assess structural risks before the incident, leading to a demand for reassessment of bridge safety protocols nationwide in light of increasing traffic and vessel sizes.