The Governor told assembled reporters that the preliminary investigation was treating the crash as an accident. He also said that the bridge was “up to code” at the time of the incident. The National Bridge Inventory rated the Francis Scott Key Bridge as in “fair” condition as of May 2023, according to the Baltimore Banner:
A “fair condition” rating indicates “that all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour,” according to a manual used to interpret scores by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. On a scale of 0 to 9, with 9 being “excellent” and 0 being “failed condition,” the bridge earned a 5, one step above being deemed in “poor condition” and one below “satisfactory condition.”
At this time, rescuers are still searching for the six missing road crew workers in the wreckage.
