In the wake of the recent bridge collapse in Baltimore, authorities are working diligently to reopen crucial commercial shipping channels and minimize the economic impact on businesses and residents in the area. Here are some key takeaways from the ongoing cleanup efforts:

– Engineers aim to restore navigation in and out of the Port of Baltimore by the end of this month, with plans to open a limited access channel within the next four weeks. The goal is to have a permanent navigation channel reopened by the end of May.
– President Joe Biden is set to visit the port city to assess the situation and meet with the families of the construction workers who tragically lost their lives in the collapse.
– The White House is seeking authorization from Congress to cover 100% of the cleanup and reconstruction costs, highlighting the importance of federal support in times of crisis.
– The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering a low-interest loan program to help affected businesses stay afloat during this challenging time. The loans are expected to be distributed within the next few weeks.
– Questions have been raised about the safety measures in place for the construction workers, with concerns about the lack of a safety boat nearby that could have potentially prevented the tragic accident.

As the cleanup and recovery efforts continue, it’s clear that a unified response is needed to support those impacted by this disaster. The reopening of the Port of Baltimore and the restoration of maritime traffic will be crucial in rebuilding the economy and restoring normalcy to the region.

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