President Biden Says Federal Government Will Fund Baltimore Bridge Redevelopment

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden promised the Federal Government would pay full cost to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, one of the country's busiest arteries to collapse after being hit by a large cargo ship.

"I intend for the Federal Government to pay for the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge and I hope Congress supports my efforts," President Biden said.

A large container-filled cargo ship crashed into a bridge while sailing out of Baltimore, Maryland, Tuesday morning, causing cars and people to fall into the river below, causing the closure of one of the busiest ports on the US East Coast.

Rescue teams released two survivors, one of whom was hospitalized, looking for more on the Patapsco River after the bridge collapsed into the water.

"I know every minute of this situation feels like life," President Biden told people who were still waiting for news about those missing after the collapse of the bridge.

President Biden continued, search and rescue operations "are our top priority."

Francis Scott Key Bridge is a major highway for those driving New York and Washington trying to avoid downtown Baltimore. It is one of three alternatives to cross Baltimore Harbor, with a traffic volume of 31,000 cars per day or 11.3 million vehicles per year.

President Biden, who called the collision a "terrible accident", was asked why the federal government should bear responsibility if the ship and its operator could potentially be the party to blame.

"It could be, but we won't wait for that to happen. We will finance the rebuilding and reopening of the bridge," he said.

Large-scale infrastructure projects are usually financed by a combination of state and federal governments.

President Biden added he would go to Baltimore "as soon as possible," but did not give him the exact time.