Maryland’s Transportation Authority (MDTA) has completed a safety study for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and announced plans to improve the bridge’s defenses against potential ship collisions.
The decision comes after heavy criticism from federal officials after the fatal collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March 2024.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has previously expressed concern over MDTA’s failure to assess the Bay Bridge for ship-strike risks, especially since it had already identified the structure as vulnerable.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, when a container ship struck one of the bridge’s columns and killed six construction workers, and caused billions in damage, brought increased scrutiny to older US bridges over navigable waterways.
According to the NTSB, the Key Bridge collapse could have been avoided if a proper risk analysis and pier protection were in place. After the incident, the board requested 30 bridge-owning agencies across the
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