What was the name of the Baltimore bridge that collapsed on March 26, 2024 after being struck by a container ship?

The Baltimore bridge that tragically collapsed on March 26, 2024, after being struck by a container ship was named the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This vital structure, which carried Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River, was a significant part of the Baltimore metropolitan area's infrastructure, connecting Dundalk and Hawkins Point.

Opened on March 23, 1977, the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a continuous steel truss bridge that, at 8,636 feet long, was the second-longest bridge in the Baltimore area and boasted a main span of 1,200 feet. It was named in honor of Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner," who was inspired to write the lyrics after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The approximate location where Key observed this historic event is within 100 yards of where the bridge stood. The bridge served as a critical route for approximately 34,000 vehicles daily, including trucks carrying hazardous materials that are prohibited from the city's tunnels.

The catastrophic collapse occurred when the container ship Dali, outbound from Baltimore, experienced a complete power blackout and lost propulsion, causing it to strike one of the bridge's support piers. Despite a mayday (Review) call from the ship's crew, which allowed authorities to stop traffic from entering the bridge, six construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge at the time were killed. The incident has had a profound impact, blocking shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore for weeks and highlighting the critical need for infrastructure resilience. Plans are underway to replace the bridge by late 2030.