Biden Calls for Federal Funding to Rebuild Baltimore Bridge Following National Outcry for Infrastructure Improvements

The aftermath of a Minneapolis bridge collapse in 2007, which killed 13 and injured 145, has been compared to the early morning collapse in Baltimore that resulted in a national outcry for increased infrastructure spending and safety measures. The Minneapolis bridge had structural deficiencies, according to investigators. Congress authorized about $250 million to rebuild the I-35W bridge days after the collapse, and a new bridge opened a year later. The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report in November 2008 cited design flaws as the probable cause for the collapse. President Joe Biden has stated that he expects the federal government to foot the entire cost of reconstructing the Baltimore bridge.