Baltimore, Maryland. (April 1, 2024): Americans looked on in horror at images of the sudden collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the resulting loss of life. Pictured above is Army Corps of Engineers Chief of Engineers Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon viewing the damage and making plans to clear the channel to restore operations at the Port of Baltimore.

The Corps of Engineers is deploying over a thousand personnel to remove and manage debris from the river, with the eventual goal of making it safe for ships to navigate again. The Corps is using a 61-foot survey vessel, the Catlett, for topographic and hydrographic surveying. They will provide engineering, construction, contracting and operations expertise to support local, state, and federal agencies.

The Port of Baltimore is key for importing cars and food products, as well as exporting coal. Last year, the port saw nearly 850,000 car and truck imports, according to Maryland state data, marking it a top port for the auto industry. It's also the home to more than 15,000 jobs and is a vital traffic artery as some 30,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily.

The Army Corps of Engineers is one of the world's largest public engineering, design, and construction management agencies. The Corps has an Engineering Regiment, a military construction role, and participates in countless civil works projects in the U.S. and abroad. The Engineer Regiment is comprised of combat engineer, rescue, construction, dive, and other specialty units. The Corps’ civil works mission includes maintaining  navigation, flood and storm damage protection, and aquatic ecosystem restoration.

Other high profile civil works projects involve the planning, designing, building, and operating river locks and dams, flood control, beach nourishment, and dredging for waterway navigation.

Military engineering services include the design and construction of military facilities for the Army, Air Force, Army Reserve, and Air Force Reserve as well as other Department of Defense and federal government agencies.

It will be a very long and difficult process to restore the Francis Scott Key Bridge and fortunately the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is up to the job.