One Year After Key Bridge Collapse, Experts Warn of Risks to Aging U.S. Infrastructure

The 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster has spurred nationwide calls for bridge vulnerability assessments and protective measures as reconstruction continues toward a 2028 completion.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed on March 26, 2024, after being struck by the container ship Dali, killing six workers and disrupting the Port of Baltimore.
A Johns Hopkins study identified 20 U.S. bridges at high risk of ship collisions, with the Huey P. Long Bridge in Louisiana deemed the most vulnerable.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) faulted the Maryland Transportation Authority for not conducting a vulnerability assessment, which could have mitigated the collapse risk.
The NTSB has recommended vulnerability assessments for 68 bridges nationwide, highlighting the need for protective measures like structural dolphins and stricter regulations.
Reconstruction of the Key Bridge is underway, with the new design incorporating modern safeguards and a higher clearance to accommodate larger ships, and completion expected by 2028.

USA TODAY

The Philadelphia Inquirer