US President Joe Biden saw firsthand Friday the work to remove the massive remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, while cranes, ships and diving teams work to reopen one of the country's main shipping routes.
Aboard Marine One, surrounding the twisted metal remains and the massive amount of construction and salvage equipment used in the effort to remove debris from the collapsed bridge last week, Biden got his first glimpse of the devastation.
On land, he was briefed by local officials, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers about the situation on the water and its impact on the region.
Biden saluted police officers who helped block traffic to the bridge moments before it was hit by the freighter, helping prevent even greater loss of life.
Eight workers, all migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, were filling potholes on the bridge when it was hit by a huge cargo ship and collapsed at midnight on March 26. Two men were rescued, but authorities have only recovered the bodies of two of the six who died.
The president also met with the families of the victims.
Authorities have established a temporary alternative channel for vessels involved in debris removal. The Army Corps of Engineers hopes to open a limited-access channel for container barges and some vessels carrying cars and farm equipment by the end of this month and restore normal capacity to the Port of Baltimore by May 31, according to the White House.
This is important as further delays in the reopening of shipping routes could send shock waves through the economy. The Port of Baltimore typically moves up to $200 million in cargo per day, and is the leading hub for vehicle imports and exports.
More than 50 divers and 12 cranes are on site to help cut sections of the bridge and remove them from the key waterway. Officials told Biden they had all the resources they needed to meet the goals of opening the canal to the Port of Baltimore.
But it is still unclear how the costs of cleaning and building a new bridge will be covered.
The White House announced Friday that it has asked Congress to authorize the federal government to cover 100% of the costs of cleaning up and rebuilding the collapsed bridge, rather than seeking funds through a separate emergency funding request.