Engineeringinfrastructure News

Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse: Investigating the Cargo Ship Crash

Experts believe the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after being struck by a cargo ship was likely due to the extreme nature of the impact, as the bridge was built in 1977 and not designed to withstand ships of that size. Newer bridges use protective infrastructure like dolphins to mitigate such collisions, but retrofitting older bridges could cost millions. Government oversight of bridges may increase following the incident, with transportation officials and engineers hoping for changes in port operations and legislation to address vulnerable bridges and maritime traffic.