Maryland Public Television and WBAL-TV collaborated on a new documentary to mark the one-year anniversary of the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge which resulted in the loss of six lives.
The documentary, titled “Key Bridge Disaster: Reflect, Recover, Rebuild,” will premiere March 19 at 8 p.m. The one-hour special examines the collision that caused the collapse in the early morning of March 26, 2024, the heroic response efforts, and the impact on Maryland’s people and economy and beyond.
The special also examines the salvage operation, the human and economic impacts, and the funding and design of the new bridge to help Baltimore rebuild and rebound toward a brighter future. Focusing initially on the heroic efforts of first responders in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, “Key Bridge Disaster: Reflect, Recover, Rebuild” recounts the stories of the people from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the Baltimore Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Middle River Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, and others.
The documentary also highlights salvage operations, from challenges to successes, retrieval of the bodies of those who perished, removing mangled bridge pieces from the Dali (the container ship that rammed into one of the bridge’s pillars), and clearing the channel.
Viewers will hear from longshoreman working at the Port of Baltimore, a truck driver who picks up cargo at the port, warehouse operators, distributors, and others. The film will cover the role of Tradepoint Atlantic, as well, which was the only Baltimore port operating after the Key Bridge collapse. Tradepoint Atlantic was the sole port keeping cargo moving through Baltimore and served as a location for remnants of the destroyed bridge to be moved onto the shore.
The film spotlights residents of the nearby Turner Station neighborhood, talking about the impact of the tragedy on their community, and their desire to be included in the bridge’s rebuilding.
The two Maryland television stations collaborated for over nine months to produce the documentary. It employs news reports, interviews, video resources from both organizations, and adds new graphics, footage, and interviews. There are interviews with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott conducted by MPT anchor Jeff Salkin and WBAL-TV news anchor and reporter Deborah Weiner.
The documentary will also be available to view live and on-demand using the free PBS app and MPT’s online video player. A preview is available to view at this link.
The premiere of “Key Bridge Disaster: Reflect, Recover, Rebuild” can be seen on Wednesday, March 19 at 8 p.m. on MPT-HD and online at this link. WBAL-TV will also broadcast the program on March 19 at 7 p.m. An encore showing of the film will air on MPT-HD at 9 p.m. and at this livestream link on March 26, the first anniversary of the disaster.
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