Sonar Images Aid U.S. Army Engineers In Fixing Collapsed Baltimore Bridge

The US Army Corps of Engineers released striking new 3D sonar images that capture an underwater view of the debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, according to Luis Martinez's report for ABC News.

Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) used the sonar system to survey the underwater debris area. I Photo: Baltimore County Government Flickr

The bridge, mostly intact underwater in Baltimore's harbor, presents challenges for the US Army Corps of Engineers as it moves forward with plans to reopen a shipping channel at that location in May.

The dramatic color images taken Tuesday by a CODA sonar system show large portions of the bridge's arched steel beams lying below the water's surface.

The beams have to be removed for the Corps to reopen the channel. Dylan Sloan of Fortune also reported that the engineers are working double-time to speed up repairs.

Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) used the sonar system to survey the underwater debris area.

The close-up sonar image shows the bridge wreckage in the deepest part of the federal Port of Baltimore Shipping Channel and one of the Francis Scott Key Bridge's main supports.

The metal tress framework is slated to be removed by the end of April and will create a narrow 35-foot-deep by 280-foot-wide limited access channel that will enable larger vessels to transit in and out of the Port of Baltimore, including marine tugs, Maritime Administration (MARAD) vessels, and those used for Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) shipping.