JFI's Richard Clinch: Loss of Bridge Impacts 'Core Industry' - Baltimore's Port
March 26, 2024
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Interviewed by The Daily Record in the aftermath of the loss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Dr. Richard Clinch, executive director of the Jacob France Institute at The University of Baltimore, said the Port of Baltimore's impact on the state's economy is in question as a result of the catastrophe.
"Transportation distribution logistics is one of Maryland's core industry clusters," Clinch said. "It's the biggest and one of the fastest growing. Clearly this impacts the competitiveness of that cluster."
The bridge was struck by a container ship leaving the port in the early morning hours on March 26. The span plummeted into the waters of the Patapsco River, which connects the port to the Chesapeake Bay. Six workers who were on the span at the time are missing and presumed dead, and the ship and wreckage have blocked access to the port. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the collision, and President Biden has pledged federal help to rebuild the bridge.
While it's difficult to estimate the economic losses resulting from the incident, Clinch said, that assessment will "depend entirely on how long it takes to fix the bridge."
"If it's a six-month fix—which I don't think it is—it's a blip," he said. "If it's a two-year fix, it's going to impact the growth of that sector long term."
Read about the economic impact of the bridge collapse in The Daily Record.
Learn more about UBalt's Jacob France Institute.