Officials have begun cutting up and removing sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

The bridge collapsed on March 26 after a massive cargo ship rammed into it, causing the structure to crumble into the Patapsco River and kill six workers who were patching potholes.

Authorities said the first major section of debris was removed from the debris field that blocked entry into the Port of Baltimore on Sunday night. A crane lifted a 200-ton piece of the bridge but Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said thousands of tons of debris remain in the river and above the ship.

Moore said authorities are still forming a plan to remove the debris and restore the port and talked about the logistical challenges of the job ahead on Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.

He said: “We have a ship that is nearly the size of the Eiffel Tower that is now stuck within the channel that has the Key Bridge sitting on top of it."

Alternate route established for crucial trade routes

An 11-foot-deep temporary route marked with lights has been established in the port, according to Coast Guard Capt. David O'Connell. The alternate route represents part of a phased approach to opening the port's main channel, he said.

A 2,000-yard safety zone surrounds the bridge site for the safety of salvage workers, ships and the marine environment, according to the Unified Command, which O'Connell leads.

The temporary route will allow some marine traffic into Baltimore but no ships or people will be able to enter the safety zone without permission from the port., O'Connell said.

No timeline for debris cleanup

Moore has expressed urgency for the cleanup process he has not yet provided a timeline. He said the jobs of 8,000 workers on the docks have been directly impacted by the collapse.

"This is not just about Maryland. This is about our nation's economy," Moore said at a press conference on Saturday. "The port handles more cars and more farm equipment more than any other port inside this country."

The Biden Administration approved his initial request of $60 million to begin the cleanup process but he said much more is required to restore the bridge.

President Joe Biden will visit the site on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced on Monday.

Contributing: John Bacon, Tom Vanden Brook, Jorge L. Ortiz

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