Demolition of a key section of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge set for this afternoon after weekend weather delays

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Demolition of a key section of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge set for this afternoon after weekend weather delays

By Nicole Grether and Gloria Pazmino, CNN
4 minute read • Published 7:41 AM EDT, Mon May 13, 2024

(CNN) -- The planned demolition of a key portion of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is set to begin Monday after inclement weather, including lightning, forced the operation to be postponed over the weekend.

The demolition, which includes using small explosives to break apart a massive chunk of the Baltimore bridge that collapsed on a cargo ship nearly seven weeks ago, was originally set for Saturday, but bad weather forced officials to push the operation to Sunday before it was eventually rescheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, the Coast Guard said.

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The 21 members of the ship’s crew – who have not left the ship since it struck the bridge – will remain onboard during the operation, according to Darrel Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine Group, which manages the Dali.

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Salvage crews work to remove wreckage from the Dali on May 8, six weeks after the cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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CNN’s Paradise Afshar, Holly Yan and Dakin Andone contributed to this report.

From Joe.My.God.:



Demolition Of Baltimore’s Key Bridge Begins Today
May 13, 2024

Baltimore’s NBC affiliate reports:

The most dramatic step yet to free the Dali cargo ship from under the remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected to take place today. Unified Command plans to use explosives to remove the steel beams off the ship, and that the crew members will remain on board during the detonation. Demolition crews are set to use a technique called precision cutting in the process to remove steel beams off the ship.

Unified Command explained to 11 News Investigates that it’s using controlled demolition because of the sheer size and weight of the remaining bridge truss. The steel truss resting on the deck of the Dali is roughly 500 feet long, 80 feet wide and weighs 8-12 million pounds. Unified Command said in a statement that the steel frame is under a tremendous amount of pressure and tension.

Read the full article.

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