Lost commerce and delays going through Baltimore’s harbor tunnels lend “an urgency” to Congress approving legislation — introduced nearly two months ago — to ensure the federal government pays the full cost of replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin told the federal highway administrator Wednesday.
“We’re on Day 72” since a container ship struck and knocked down the bridge, killing six construction workers and choking commerce to the Port of Baltimore by blocking the shipping channel, Cardin, a Democrat, said during a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
“It took only a matter of days when a Minnesota bridge was destroyed for Congress to act and make it clear that they will be there with 100% federal funds,” Cardin reminded Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt, the lone witness during the two-hour budget hearing.
Bhatt replied: “I would say that, yes, the president has been very clear that he wants 100% funding for the bridge.”
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Jeff Barker over at The Baltimore Sun
