The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling out Maryland officials for not assessing the risks of the Francis Scott Key Bridge before its collapse last year. The NTSB believes that if Maryland had conducted a proper risk assessment, steps could have been taken to prevent the tragic event that occurred in Baltimore.
The Key Bridge fell after being struck by the cargo ship Dali on March 26, 2024. The NTSB’s findings show that the bridge was nearly 30 times over the acceptable risk level for essential bridges, according to standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). This alarming discovery has led the NTSB to recommend that 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states perform vulnerability assessments to evaluate the risk of collapse from vessel collisions.
While the NTSB did not suggest that other bridges are at immediate risk of collapse, it warned that many could be above safe risk levels. The report is part of the ongoing investigation into the Key Bridge incident. The NTSB has identified that many of the bridges in question were built before 1991, when AASHTO guidelines were established, and have not undergone the necessary vulnerability assessments.
The NTSB emphasized that since 1994, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has required new bridges to be designed to minimize risks from vessel collisions. However, the Key Bridge was built before these requirements were in place.
Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) did not conduct a vulnerability assessment for the Key Bridge, which the NTSB believes would have revealed the bridge’s high-risk status before the collision. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that the MDTA was unable to provide necessary data for an assessment, forcing the NTSB to gather the information on its own.
In response, MDTA claimed that it was already evaluating the bridge using AASHTO methods when the NTSB requested the results last fall. They maintain that the responsibility for the disaster lies with the Dali’s owners and operators, who they say prioritized profits over safety. The MDTA plans to update the NTSB within 30 days.
The NTSB has alerted officials in multiple states, including California, Florida, and New York, about the need for risk assessments on bridges like the Key Bridge. They also recommend that federal agencies like the FHWA and the U.S. Coast Guard form a team to help bridge owners assess and reduce risks.
The Dali, a 984-foot cargo ship registered in Singapore, collided with the Key Bridge after losing electrical power and propulsion. The incident resulted in the deaths of six construction workers and injuries to others on the ship. Regular inspections of the Key Bridge had deemed it satisfactory, but the tragic incident has raised serious concerns about bridge safety nationwide.
Maryland is currently pursuing legal action against the owners and operators of the Dali, while families of the victims have also filed lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Justice recently settled claims related to the incident for $103 million.
As the investigation continues, researchers at Johns Hopkins University are assessing the likelihood of similar disasters occurring in the future, with preliminary findings expected soon.