Francis Scott Key Bridge emergency order extended

FMCSA is extending the emergency order issued following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26.

The Key Bridge order first was extended on April 4, offering relief of certain regulations through Wednesday, May 8 for commercial motor vehicles providing direct assistance.

“Because emergency conditions, including the sudden and significant disruption of distribution operations, have not abated, FMCSA continues its extension of the emergency declaration,” the extension document said.

It categorizes direct assistance as:

• Transportation related to the immediate restoration of essential services at the Port of Baltimore
• Transportation of commodities re-routed due to the disruptions to vessel traffic into the port
• Transportation of gasoline, ethanol, propane, natural gas and heating oil from Curtis Bay terminal for delivery to Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Hartford County, Howard County, Queen Anne’s County and Washington County

Commercial motor vehicles providing emergency assistance are granted relief from maximum driving-time requirements for property-carrying vehicles.

In addition, motor carriers and drivers not currently required to use an electronic logging device – including those who do not have an ELD installed or those operating under the short-haul operations exception – are granted relief from ELD requirements for record-of-duty status. However, those carriers and drivers are required to maintain paper logs and supporting documents while operating under the Key Bridge emergency declaration.

View around stern of cargo ship Dali as recovery work continues after Key Bridge collapse. Apr. 23, 2024.#KeyBridge #KeyBridgeNews@portofbalt @TheMDTA @USCG @USACEBaltimore pic.twitter.com/iovpxdfnB6

— MDTransportationDept (@MDOTNews) May 7, 2024

Following the latest extension, the Maryland order is now in effect through June 8.

FMCSA said it will continually review the status of the emergency and may take action to modify the extension, if necessary.

Interstate 695 closure

In a Federal Register notice scheduled to publish on Wednesday, May 8, the Federal Highway Administration says it is approving an emergency deletion from the National Network of the portion of Interstate 695 that needs to be rebuilt.

The Maryland Transportation Authority, which owns the Key Bridge, closed I-695 over the Patapsco River in both directions on March 26. That closure will continue indefinitely until the bridge can be reconstructed.

FHWA is requesting comments from the public on the alternate routes selected by the Maryland Transportation Authority due to the I-695 closure.

Those comments will be accepted through June 8.

Updated information on Key Bridge recovery efforts is available here. LL

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