The US government has granted the state of Maryland $60 million in emergency federal relief, announced on Thursday, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The bridge collapsed early on Tuesday after a massive cargo ship collided with its structure in the port of Baltimore.
Two bodies have been recovered, with four others presumed dead.
Governor Wes Moore of Maryland requested the $60 million, and the Federal Highway Administration, a part of the Department of Transportation, approved the request within hours, according to Reuters.
Typically, approval for such funding takes days, but President Joe Biden directed the federal government to exert every possible effort to quickly rebuild the bridge.
The Department of Transportation stated that these funds represent an initial installment to cover the initial costs, with additional funding to be provided for the emergency relief program as work progresses.
Economic software analysis company I.M. Plan estimates the initial reconstruction costs likely to be covered by the federal government to be $600 million.
However, federal officials informed Maryland lawmakers that the cost could escalate to at least $2 billion, according to The Hill, citing a source familiar with the discussions.
This incident underscores the urgent need for infrastructure investment and highlights the challenges facing aging bridges across the country, particularly in major transportation hubs like Baltimore.
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