Biden Views Key Bridge Collapse: 'Your Nation Has Your Back'

Last updated Friday at 5:06 p.m.

BALTIMORE, MD —President Joe Biden (D) on Friday reaffirmed his support for rebuilding and reopening Baltimore during a tour of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Biden again pledged that the federal government would pay all costs to rebuild the Interstate 695 crossing, which fell on March 26 after a ship crashed into it.

"I'm here to say your nation has your back and I mean it," Biden said at a press conference. "We're going to move heaven and Earth to rebuild this bridge as rapidly as humanly possible, and we're going to do so with union labor and American steel."

Read all of Patch's Key Bridge collapse coverage here.

The cargo ship Dali lost power and crashed into the bridge last week. The ensuing collapse killed two construction workers. Another four are presumed dead. The ship and bridge debris still block the Patapsco River, limiting traffic to the Port of Baltimore.

Biden flew over the bridge site before speaking to Maryland leaders.

"From the air, I saw the bridge that's been ripped apart, but here on the ground, I see a community that's been pulled together," he said.

This wouldn't be the first time that Congress paid entirely to replace a collapsed interstate bridge. Biden's office pointed to the 2007 Minnesota bridge collapse when Congress paid $250 million toward replacing the crossing on Interstate 35W.

"I fully intend, as the governor knows, to have the federal government cover the cost of building this entire bridge. All of it," Biden said. "I call on Congress to authorize this effort as soon as possible."

The White House has already put money where its mouth is.

Biden announced $8 million for infrastructure improvements at Sparrows Point to increase its shipping capacity. This terminal, home to Tradepoint Atlantic, wasn't blocked by the bridge collapse.

Tradepoint Atlantic will pick up the slack and unload about 10,000 vehicles in the next two weeks. The Port of Baltimore is the nation's largest car importer and exporter, so this will prevent supply chain snags.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Friday approved $3.5 million in grants for dislocated workers. Under this program, workers affected by the port slowdown will get temporary recovery jobs and training for career advancement when businesses reopen.

Biden said Amazon, Home Depot and Domino Sugar all committed to retaining their employees during the port slowdown. He called on all businesses around the port to do the same.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also launched low-interest disaster relief loans for affected businesses. The SBA opened support offices this week in Canton (1501 S. Clinton Street, Suite 100) and Dundalk (7200 Sollers Point Road) to assist applicants.

Maryland on March 28 requested $60 million to jump start cleanup efforts. Biden's administration approved that funding within hours.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is cleaning up the wreckage with the help of the largest crane on the East Coast.

Crews have already reopened a temporary channel primarily for small vessels involved in the cleanup. They expect to open a larger channel for mid-size ships by the end of April.

Engineers hope to fully reopen the permanent channel by the end of May.

"We're focused on protecting the workers and businesses," the president said, pointing to the thousands of employees at the port. "Families depend on this port to buy groceries, to make rent to pay their bills."

Biden got a bird's-eye-view of the site Friday afternoon. He circled the metal bridge remains and salvage equipment aboard the Marine One helicopter.

"Thousands of tons of mangled steel remain lodged in the water, blocking ships from moving in and out of the harbor," Biden said at the press conference.

The president then landed at Martin State Airport in Middle River. His motorcade drove him to the Maryland Transportation Authority offices in Dundalk, where he was briefed on recovery efforts.

Biden then spoke with federal personnel, local officials and first responders leading the cleanup.

One of the most pressing tasks is removing a large section of the bridge's truss lying on the ship.

That hunk of steel weighs 5,000 tons and stands 125 feet tall, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Brigadier General John Lloyd told Biden during the briefing. Crews are trying to cut that piece off so the ship can vacate the site.

Lloyd said it's a "mangled mess" beneath the water, a pool reporter at the briefing wrote. A team of 51 divers and 12 cranes are on-site, Lloyd added.

Biden saluted and shook hands with nearly a dozen first responders who attended the briefing, the pool reporter said.

The president concluded his press conference by referencing National Anthem author Francis Scott Key, the bridge's namesake. Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner" while held captive near the current bridge site during the War of 1812. After a long night of fighting, he saw the American flag still flying above Baltimore.

Biden said Baltimore rebuilt then and the city will rebuild now.

"We're coming back. We're coming back soon," he said. "We will support Maryland and Baltimore every step of the way to help you rebuild."

The president met with the victims' families late Friday afternoon. That meeting was closed to the press.

Biden's full speech is posted at this link.