A catastrophic bridge collapse is more than twisted metal and concrete; it’s a fracture in a city’s lifeblood, a disruption of commerce, and a stark reminder of how fragile our infrastructure can be. BBC One’s Why Bridges Collapse: The Baltimore Disaster tackles the sobering investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge tragedy, offering viewers a front-row seat to the chaos and the painstaking process of piecing together what went wrong.
On March 26, 2024, the container ship MV Dali, a behemoth weighing 1000 tonnes and en route to Sri Lanka, dealt a devastating blow to Baltimore. Its collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge resulted in six fatalities and the near-total destruction of a vital artery in the city’s transportation network. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the disaster, offering a visceral look at the immediate aftermath and the long road to recovery.
Why Bridges Collapse gets up close and personal with the investigation, securing exclusive access to the teams working tirelessly to understand the chain of events that led to the collapse. Minutes before impact, the MV Dali suffered a series of blackouts, crippling its engine and steering, essentially turning the massive vessel into a steel projectile aimed directly at the bridge. The film meticulously examines these power failures, tracing the path from electrical malfunction to disastrous collision.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the documentary follows the massive undertaking of clearing the 50,000 tonnes of wreckage from the riverbed, a herculean effort involving the combined forces of the US Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. It’s a logistical puzzle on an epic scale, with the added pressure of reopening the Port of Baltimore as quickly as possible.
Why Bridges Collapse expands its scope beyond the Baltimore incident, examining other ship-bridge collisions and exploring the unsettling vulnerability of bridges across the United States. The film also turns its lens toward the future, considering how AI and engineering innovations might offer solutions to prevent similar disasters. Interviews with key figures, including US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, provide valuable context and insights into the challenges and potential solutions surrounding bridge safety.
Why Bridges Collapse: The Baltimore Disaster airs Thursday, December 5, 2024 on BBC One.
