An ambitious timeline has been set for the clearing and reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, following its collapse last month. Although White House officials have cautioned that the process will be neither quick nor easy, Maryland officials are working diligently to reopen the port of Baltimore by the end of the month.

According to reports, the cost to rebuild the bridge is estimated to be at least $400 million. This extensive process could take anywhere between 18 months and seven years to complete, as stated by the Associated Press. The Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spans the Patapsco River in Maryland, had initially opened in 1977 after five years of construction.

The collapse occurred after the MV Dali, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, struck a pier of the bridge. As a result, a large portion of the 1.6-mile-long bridge fell into the water, effectively blocking off Baltimore's port and leaving over 40 ships stranded.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has cautioned that the rebuilding process will require time, resources, and significant funds. A precise timeline for reconstruction will only be available once the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation. However, emergency relief funds of approximately $950 million are estimated to be available.

The impact of the bridge collapse has been keenly felt by over 500 affected businesses, who have now applied for long-term, low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to mitigate the financial burden. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman emphasized that the disruption caused by the collapse has severely affected supply chain, logistics, and transportation companies that depend on the port. This ripple effect has also impacted small businesses from neighboring states such as Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, the Maryland attorney general's office is actively recruiting lawyers to consider potential litigation regarding the bridge collapse, as reported by the Baltimore Sun. As investigations continue, authorities are committed to ensuring accountability and exploring all possible legal avenues.

Efforts to clear the wreckage and rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge are underway, with the focus on restoring normalcy to the port of Baltimore as quickly as possible. The combined efforts of federal agencies, state officials, and affected businesses will undoubtedly play a critical role in the recovery process, as the region looks forward to resuming uninterrupted trade and commerce.