Army Corps plans a temporary channel by April’s end and permanent reopening by May’s end for Port of Baltimore.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is striving to reopen temporary and permanent channels at the Port of Baltimore to resume shipments. They aim to establish a limited-access channel by the end of April, facilitating one-way traffic for auto and farm equipment shipments. This temporary channel, measuring 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, will support barge container service and roll-on/roll-off vessels. Additionally, Army Corps engineers target the reopening of the permanent Fort McHenry Channel, measuring 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep, by the end of May. This channel will aid in restoring port access to normal capacity following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the channel. While vessel traffic remains suspended, truck access is still operational within the marine terminals. However, the timeline for channel reopening is subject to change due to adverse weather conditions and the complexities of wreckage removal. Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, USACE commanding general, expressed gratitude for the unified command’s efforts, emphasising the extensive work ahead to restore port functionality.
