13 Guiding Good Governance Key Bridge Cross-Agency Collaboration Quickly Reopens Baltimore Shipping Channel In the early hours of March 26, 2024, the cargo ship Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, severing the main span and sending massive steel girders crashing into the Patapsco River. Eight bridge maintenance workers fell into the water and only two survived. The bridge sits at a vulnerable pinch point—spanning a narrow channel where large ships enter the Port of Baltimore, the ninth-busiest US port. In the days and weeks following the incident that forced a closure of the port, global supply chains and port revenue suffered, and more than 50,000 workers were impacted. Estimates calculated a daily cost of $192 million in economic activity. However, the port’s strategic location facilitated a swift response. Proximity to the US capital meant oversight by leaders of federal agencies and the White House. Additionally, being on the busy East Coast meant quick access to necessary equipment and personnel. Responding agencies each quickly connected their enterprise GIS to the others’ to seamlessly share web maps, web services, 3D scenes, and other data. Within just six days, a new channel was opened for shallow-draft vessels. By the 30-day mark, half the channel’s width was cleared, allowing deepdraft vessels to pass. In 76 days, the original channel was fully restored. “By working together, we turned months into weeks— and bounced back faster than many could have ever anticipated.” — Wes Moore, governor, Maryland Supporting Individual Roles for Cross-Agency Collaboration In the first 24 hours of the bridge collision and collapse, first responders focused on a search and rescue mission. Then, the US Coast Guard, which oversees waterways and bridges that span navigation routes, An aerial view of the wreckage after the cargo ship Dali crashed into the Key Bridge.
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