Janice R. Andrews
Date: [Insert Date of Today]
As the cargo ship Dali makes its way to port in Norfolk, Virginia, traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge will be temporarily delayed late on Monday morning. The cargo ship was involved in an accident that resulted in the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” the Maryland Transport Authority (MDTA) stated in a statement that it will be stopping traffic on the Bay Bridge on Monday between 11 a.m. and noon as the maritime vessel Dali passes beneath. In order to provide anchoring help on the Dali’s journey to Norfolk, officials indicated that the decision was made “in consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard” and that four tug boats are traveling with the ship.
What to Anticipate:
According to Dave Dildine of WTOP, it should be very easy to escape the line at the bridge during the traffic jam.”You can plan around the passage of the container ship, unlike stoppages for sudden severe weather,” Dildine stated. “To avoid the backups, aim to arrive at the bridge crossovers before 10:45 a.m. or after around 12:30 p.m., assuming the schedule doesn’t change.”
Dildine stated that “it’s probably a good idea that traffic will be held, so drivers won’t be tempted to slow down, watch, and take their eyes off the road” in response to the intense media interest.
Dildine added that since westbound traffic usually makes up the majority of travel on Mondays during the summer, it could take a little longer to clear off Kent Island.The Dali has been berthed in Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal for the past month while it awaits approval for relocation for Norfolk repairs.
The Dali lost power and drifted off course on March 26, crashing into Baltimore’s Key Bridge and virtually destroying it. The crash claimed the lives of six construction workers working on the bridge, and it is expected to take years and cost billions of dollars for Baltimore and the state of Maryland to rebuild.
Dildine stressed that for the most recent traffic information, stick with WTOP on the 8s since the closure’s “times and duration are approximate and dependent on the ship’s progress.”
