The US government has awarded the state of Maryland $60 million in federal emergency aid in response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, an extremely rapid release of funds after such a disaster.
The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after a huge cargo ship that lost power slammed into the structure in Baltimore Harbor. Two bodies have been found and four others missing are presumed dead.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore requested the $60 million earlier Friday, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration approved the request within hours.
Such funding usually takes days, but President Joe Biden told reporters on Tuesday that he had ordered the federal government to "move heaven and earth" to quickly rebuild the bridge.
"These funds serve as a down payment to cover initial costs, and additional funding under the Emergency Assistance Program will be made available as work progresses," the Department of Transportation said in a statement.
Initial estimates of the cost of reconstruction, likely to be paid by the federal government, are $600 million, economic analysis software firm IMPLAN said.
But federal officials have told lawmakers from Maryland that the costs could rise to at least $2 billion, The Hill reports, citing a source familiar with the discussions./BGNES
