BALTIMORE, Maryland: On Sunday, officials said the controlled demolition of the largest remaining steel span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has been postponed because of unfavorable weather conditions.
The span, estimated at 500 feet (152 meters) long and weighing up to 600 tons (544 metric tons), landed on the bow after the ship, the “Dali,” which lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s support columns shortly after leaving Baltimore.
The Dali has been trapped in the wreckage and Baltimore’s busy port has been closed to most maritime traffic.
Officials said lightning in the area and rising tides Sunday forced them to reschedule the demolition, which had been tentatively moved to Monday evening.
Six members of a roadwork crew, all Latino immigrants who were filling potholes on an overnight shift when the bridge was destroyed, died in the 26th March collapse.
The last of their bodies was recovered from the underwater wreckage last week.
After the controlled demolition, the Dali can be refloated and guided back into the Port of Baltimore. And maritime traffic can begin returning to normal.
The Dali’s 21-member crew will stay onboard the ship while the explosives are detonated.
William Marks, spokesperson for the crew, said they would shelter “in a designated safe place” during the demolition.
“All precautions are being taken to ensure everyone’s safety,” he added.
Officials said in a press release on Sunday that demolition is the safest and most efficient way to remove steel under a high level of pressure and tension.
“It is unsafe for the workers to be on or in the immediate vicinity of the bridge truss for those final cuts,” they added.
