Alternate Temporary Channels Opening Around Key Bridge in Baltimore

A temporary, alternate channel on the northeast side of the main channel in the vicinity of the Key Bridge is being established for commercially essential vessels.

Gigi Wood

Apr 2, 2024

Demolition crews with the Unified Command begin cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 2024. Salvage teams use exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon

Officials are in the process of opening additional alternate routes to maneuver around the Interstate-695 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.

First Alternate Channel

A temporary, alternate channel on the northeast side of the main channel in the vicinity of the Key Bridge is being established for commercially essential vessels, according to the city of Baltimore.

“This will mark an important first step along the road to reopening the port of Baltimore,” said Capt. David O’Connell, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Key Bridge Response 2024. “By opening this alternate route, we will support the flow of marine traffic into Baltimore.”

The temporary channel will be marked with government lighted aids to navigation and will have a controlling depth of 11 feet, a 264-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance 96 feet.

U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Baltimore drops buoy channel markers in the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, April 2, 2024. ANT crews use these buoys to mark the new temporary alternate channel for commercially essential vessels during the Key Bridge Response.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Carmen Caver

Secondary Alternate Channel

Announced on April 2, a secondary alternate channel has been established on the southwest side of the main channel by the Captain of the Port (COTP). Key Bridge response officials have said that this action is part of a phased approach to opening the main channel. The second alternate is marked with government lighted aids to navigation and will be limited to transit at the discretion of the COTP. It has a controlling depth of 14 feet, a 280-foot horizontal clearance and a vertical clearance of 124 feet.

The Chesapeake, a 1000-ton lift capacity derrick barge, the Ferrell, a 200-ton lift capacity revolving crane barge and the Oyster Bay, a 150-ton lift capacity crane barge are in Baltimore Harbor. The barges will be used by the Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving to remove submerged portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The barges, contracted through Naval Sea Systems Command will support the Coast Guard led Unified Command in its effort to clear and re-open the channel.Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Hannah MohrBackground

According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, on Tuesday, March 26 at 1:30 a.m., a cargo ship named Dali was leaving the Port of Baltimore and struck the Key Bridge, causing it to collapse. Several construction workers were filling potholes along the bridge at the time, and six are thought to be dead, according to a Baltimore Sun report on April 2. A seventh construction worker, as well as a bridge inspector, survived.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is coordinating response efforts with the Unified Command, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Navy and others. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told media outlets on April 1 that highly-trained demolition experts began cutting into the bridge’s north side on March 30.

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The Corps completed a required underwater survey necessary before debris removal began.

The DOD reported that at least three naval multi-ton-capacity barges have been contracted to clear out debris at the Baltimore Harbor, including the 1,000-ton-lift-capacity derrick barge, Chesapeake; the 200-ton-lift-capacity revolving crane barge, Ferrell and the 150-ton-lift-capacity crane barge, Oyster Bay. Next week, an additional barge, with 400-ton lift capacity, is expected to arrive to help clear the bay.

According to the Navy, the barges will be used by the Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) to remove submerged portions of the bridge. The group will complete the work in phases. Once an overall assessment has been completed, work will focus first on disassembling and removing the bridge, section by section. Those pieces will be lifted onto barges, which will transport the pieces to another location.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff onboard Hydrographic Survey Vessel CATLETT observe the damage resulting from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, March 26, 2024. In accordance with USACE’s federal authorities, USACE will lead the effort to clear the channel as part of the larger interagency recovery effort to restore operations at the Port of Baltimore.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/David Adams

The barges are being joined by a number of other vessels and equipment to clear the area. According to the Navy, at least an additional 12 crane and support vessels include tugs, survey, dive and crew boats, are arriving in Baltimore.