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Forth Road Bridge closed to traffic due to 'gale force winds exceeding 65mph'

The Forth Road Bridge has been closed to all traffic while those on the coast have been warned of a 'danger to life' from wave overtopping.

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Update: The bridge has now reopened to permitted vehicles, except double-decker buses, vehicles with trailers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

A major bridge has been closed to all traffic and a “danger to life” warning has been issued for those living near the coast amid Storm Kathleen.

The Forth Road Bridge has been closed to all traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians, due to gale force winds exceeding 65mph.

A decision was made around 3.50pm to close the bridge completely.

The route had been closed to all traffic except taxis without trailers and single-deck buses earlier on Saturday afternoon.

The decision comes as Scotland continues to feel the impact of Storm Kathleen which is expected to bring winds of up to 70mph – and potentially the hottest day of the year so far.

Storm Kathleen: 70mph gusts and flood warnings amid weather alert

‘Unseasonably strong’ winds of up to 70 miles per hour are forecast for parts of Scotland on Saturday.

About 70 flights departing and arriving at UK airports before midday on Saturday were cancelled as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind.

SEPA has issued 18 regional flood alerts and 40 local flood warnings stating that there is a “real danger to life” from wave overtopping.

Vincent Fitzsimons, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Across the weekend, Scotland is braced for impacts from Storm Kathleen including very high winds and coastal flooding in western areas.  Flooding impacts are expected across western coastal areas throughout the weekend.

“Impacts start in the Solway coast and Firth of Clyde on Saturday and then move around the coast to the eastern side of the country over the next few days.  Of particular concern is likely impact to communities in the Western Isles and Orkney late Saturday and across Sunday.

“On top of already high tides, Kathleen will bring a storm surge and large waves. This combination is particularly dangerous – especially around high tides.

“There is real danger to life from wave overtopping, particularly around causeways, coastal roads and paths.  Disruption to travel and infrastructure is possible, as is isolated flooding to coastal properties and communities.

“While the risk is greatest around high tide times, our message is clear:  take extra care if you are near the coast at any point and stay well clear of waves and water.  Be careful when travelling around exposed coastal areas and don’t walk or drive through flood water as there may be hidden hazards.

“Flood Alerts and Warnings are in place so stay up to date though our website. We will continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and review regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings as required.

“We advise people to sign up to Floodline to receive free updates for where they live, or travel through, directly to their phone. People can also check our flood updates for all the latest information and view the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.” 

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Fast Lane for Sustainable Cross-Forth Travel

The Forth Road Bridge will fully reopen tomorrow as a dedicated public transport corridor, giving passengers a head start on their journeys between Edinburgh and Fife.

The news means buses and taxis are now able to enjoy dedicated lanes between the M9 near Newbridge and Halbeath in Fife. This will be particularly welcome at peak times when public transport passengers will be given priority, making their journeys quicker and more reliable.

The reopened bridge also marks the launch of a new campaign, Fife in the Fast Lane , promoting smart public transport journeys in and around Fife. The collaborative marketing campaign by Transport Scotland, Stagecoach and ScotRail highlights using smart tickets for travel on either bus or train, providing more options for buying, collecting and storing your travel tickets.

Routes for walking and cycling across the bridge will also be opened, allowing for active travel participants to enjoy a cleaner, quieter crossing, without the regular vehicle traffic experienced previously.

The move also signals the “Managed Crossing” vision for cross-Forth travel being realised in full. First announced by the Scottish Government in December 2008, two years before the £1.35 billion Forth Replacement Crossing was approved by the Scottish Parliament, the Queensferry Crossing and connecting road upgrades aim to substantially improve the reliability of the M90 for cars and HGVs, providing a resilient route for cross-Forth traffic. This new structure replaces the existing Road Bridge, without attracting additional traffic to the area. It has always been envisaged that any demand for extra capacity on the route would be met by sustainable forms of transport.

With the road orders approved for the Queensferry Crossing for it to officially become a motorway, there are changes to the type of vehicles that can use the new bridge, with non-motorway traffic no longer allowed access to the Queensferry Crossing, instead using the Forth Road Bridge as an alternative.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said:

“It is tremendously satisfying to see our vision for a managed, dual-bridge strategy come to pass just over nine years after it was first announced. The original decision allowed us to substantially reduce the cost of the overall project by retaining the FRB, therefore reducing the size and cost of the new bridge. Our commitment to encouraging the use of sustainable transport remains resolute and today’s news means that additional demand for cross-Forth travel has the very attractive option of enhanced park and ride facilities at Ferrytoll and Halbeath as well as dedicated priority across the Firth of Forth and beyond.

“To promote this, a joint smart travel campaign ’Fife in the fast lane’ is now underway, highlighting the difference that this - the first dedicated public transport corridor on a bridge in Scotland - plus smart ticketing can make for public transport journeys in and around the Fife area. And for those who like the active life, it’s great to see the cycling and walking route over this iconic bridge also officially opened today.

“As the Forth Replacement Crossing project winds down – with this news and motorway status on the new M90 across the stunning Queensferry Crossing bridge – we can start to see the full benefits of this once in a lifetime infrastructure project and the true value of such a significant piece of investment in the national infrastructure.”

Paul Thomas, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Scotland said:

"Our Express City Connect services crossing the Forth are such a key part of our network in East Scotland, connecting our customers in Fife, Dundee, Perthshire and beyond, to the capital as well as our regular journeys to Edinburgh Airport.  We're delighted to now see the full benefit of the Queensferry Crossing, in creating dedicated bus lanes on the Forth Road bridge, with the aim of reducing congestion for part of the route and improving journey times for public transport users. We are confident that the collaborative approach to a marketing campaign will raise awareness of the high quality public transport options in the area, the range of smart ticketing available and the level of convenience afforded by P&R sites and connectivity across modes. We'll continue to invest in our network of luxury coach services ensuring we can provide the best possible, sustainable travel option across the Forth."

Mark Powles, ScotRail Alliance commercial director, said:

“We’re building the best railway that Scotland’s ever had – and that applies to all of Scotland. Fife is a key part of our network, with direct services to six of Scotland’s seven cities and easy access to the rest of the country.

“To make travel even simpler, we’ve invested in our ScotRail Smartcard – which offers our best value fares, and no more queuing for tickets.”

 Amey’s Mark Arndt, Account Director for the Forth Bridges Operating Company, said:

“It’s a privilege for Amey to be responsible for operation of the Forth Bridges at the beginning of this exciting new era.

“Over the past few months we’ve been getting ahead with maintenance on the Forth Road Bridge. Now we’re looking forward to applying our resources and expertise to make a success of its new role as a public transport corridor. This and the new managed motorway over the Queensferry Crossing are truly innovative developments that will make a real difference to the reliability and sustainability of cross-Forth travel for years to come.”

John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland said:

"The re-opening of the Forth Road Bridge as a sustainable transport corridor is a hugely positive development that sets a precedent within Scotland and acts as an example to the rest of the UK. 

"It will benefit not just those commuters who choose to travel on foot or by bike, or those who choose sustainable modes of travel, but outside peak times, it will provide an attractive resource for walking and cycling, providing unparalleled views of the Scotland's magnificent new bridge.

“National Cycle Route 1, which is part of the North Sea Cycle Route, linking all the nations bordering the North Sea, has used the bridge for many years, the re-opening now improves the offer and also provides a nearly continuous off-road greenway route through From Fife to north Edinburgh and into Edinburgh City Centre.

To assist road users understanding of the new road and bridge layouts, as well as the features of the Queensferry Crossing, a guide has been recently published and is available here:  Road Users Guide

25,000 copies of the guide have been produced and have been distributed to stakeholders. The guide has also being sent for display at libraries, petrol stations, bus & train stations and tourist information offices and along the Forth corridor and across the east central Scotland region.

A guide to the active travel corridor is also available here: Walking & Cycling Guide

Queensferry Crossing diversion tonight: Traffic will use Forth Road Bridge in full trial of new automated diversion barriers

T raffic will be diverted from the Queensferry Crossing onto the Forth Road Bridge tonight as engineers carry out the final full trial of the new automated barrier system which will allow quicker diversions in future.

Up until now, diversion arrangements had to be put in place manually and it took six hours to complete, meaning that traffic was sent via the Kincardine Bridge instead, a long detour for many drivers.

The new system involves eight barriers which move themselves across the carriageway at the touch of a button to redirect traffic on the M90 motorway from the Queensferry Crossing to the Forth Road Bridge. The first full trial deployment of the automated barrier system saw traffic running over the Bridge just 38 minutes after all traffic on the approaches to the Queensferry Crossing had been stopped.

Tonight’s diversion, between midnight and 8am, will affect traffic in both directions. When a red X is displayed above all lanes, traffic must stop. Once all traffic has stopped the automated barriers will be moved and traffic will then be diverted via the Forth Road Bridge. Drivers who ignore the red X will risk a £100 fine and three points on their licence. 

David Bishop, south-east unit bridges manager for BEAR Scotland, who manage the crossing, said: “This new system will significantly reduce the time it takes to open a diversion via the Forth Road Bridge, should the Queensferry Crossing need to close for any reason.

“Last year we carried out a successful trial of the automated vehicle restraint barriers and the improvements we have made since then will further reduce the time it takes to open the diversion route.

“The trial diversion in the early hours of April 21 will allow us to test the new system and identify and address any issues before it needs to be used in future.”

Ohio has nearly 27,000 bridges. Are the ones you drive over daily in 'poor' condition?

Every day, 61,022 westbound drivers leaving Columbus cross the Scioto River using an Interstate 70 bridge.

The condition of that high-traffic bridge? Poor, according to June 2023 bridge condition data from the Federal Highway Administration.

Poor bridge conditions aren't exclusive to highways; almost every bridge connecting German Village to downtown Columbus — Front Street, High Street, Third Street, and Fourth Street — is considered in poor condition. The only exception is the Grant Avenue bridge.

These are just a few of the 1,251 bridges or culverts in Ohio that are in poor condition, according to the most recent data from FHWA. There are a total of 26,960 bridges and culverts in Ohio, the second-most in the United States behind Texas.

After a steady decline in poor condition bridges, there was an uptick in the number of poor bridges in Ohio, increasing from 1,223 in 2019 to 1,251 in 2023, according to data from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

FHWA's bridge condition data is a "snapshot" of a community or state's bridge infrastructure, ARTBA Chief Economist Alison Black said.

"I think it really shines a spotlight on some of the challenges that areas may have as well as the progress that's been made in many areas in terms of those bridge conditions," Black said.

The Front Street bridge is currently closed for reconstruction, and the other bridges over I-70 are set for reconstruction in the next few years as part of ODOT's Downtown Ramp Up project .

In the meantime, thousands of motorists continue to travel these structures every day, according to data from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission .

One of these motorists, Michelle Johnson, a business manager at Katzinger's Delicatessen, crosses the Third Street bridge as part of three of her five weekly commutes to work, she said.

And while she's on the bridge, her mind is only on a few things.

"(I think) I really want to get off of it, and I can't wait until they rebuild it," she said.

On a national scale, the number of bridges in poor condition has been on a downward trend in recent years, Black said.

"It's a slow process. It takes a while. So that is good news," she said.

While the number of bridges in poor condition in the U.S. continues to dwindle, a significant challenge remains; around one in three bridges in the country need repairs, Black said.

In Ohio, it will cost more than $3 billion for the state to repair its 3,183 bridges that need it.

"There's certainly a lot of work that needs to be done, and although we've seen more resources put towards bridge projects, it is something that does take time for the work to be completed," Black said.

Ohio is 13th in the nation for the number of poor-condition bridges it has. In terms of percentage of poor bridges out of Ohio's entire bridge inventory, the state is ranked 38th with 5% of its bridges classified as poor.

Bridges in worst condition in Franklin County

The Downtown bridges aren't the only ones in poor condition in the county. Here's a full list of the 19 bridges in the worst condition in and around the state's capital city. Since FHWA's most recent data is from June 2023, some of the bridges listed have already been replaced.

• Fourth Street bridge over I-70, scheduled for reconstruction
• High Street bridge over I-70, scheduled for reconstruction
• I-70 westbound bridge over Scioto River, scheduled for reconstruction
• Front Street bridge over I-70, currently being reconstructed
• Third Street bridge over I-70, scheduled for reconstruction
• Brice Road bridge over I-70, scheduled for widening
• State Route 104 bridge over I-270, reconstruction completed
• Gantz Road bridge over I-270, scheduled for reconstruction
• Frank Road bridge 0.2 miles west of Gantz Road
• Harris-Georges Road bridge 0.25 miles south of State Route 665
• Reese Road bridge over Big Walnut Creek, currently being reconstructed
• Wright Road bridge in Pickerington Ponds Metro Park
• Dempsey Road bridge 0.5 miles west of Sunbury Road
• Beach Road bridge over Big Darby Creek
• Orders Road bridge over Spitlinger Ditch
• Kimberly Parkway bridge over Mason Run
• West Selby Boulevard bridge over Rush Run, scheduled for reconstruction
• Shawan Falls Drive bridge over South Fork Indian Run, reconstruction completed
• Wynne Ridge Court bridge over Beem Ditch, scheduled for reconstruction

How are bridges rated?

U.S. bridges can be classified by the FHWA as in good, fair, or poor condition, according to the FHWA's website .

The condition of a bridge is based on the lowest rating of its components, namely the bridge's superstructure, substructure and deck on a scale of zero to nine.

A bridge is in good condition when its lowest deck, superstructure or substructure rating is greater than or equal to seven. A bridge is in fair condition when its lowest rating for the same structures is five or six. And a bridge is in poor condition when its lowest rating is four or lower.

Here's what each number on the scale means, according to a FHWA code book .

• 9: Excellent condition
• 8: Very good condition , no problems noted
• 7: Good condition , some minor problems
• 6: Satisfactory condition , structural elements show some minor deterioration
• 5: Fair condition , all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling, or scour
• 4: Poor condition , advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling or scour
• 3: Serious condition , loss of section, deterioration, spalling or scour have seriously affected primary structural components. Local failures are possible. Fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present.
• 2: Critical condition , advanced deterioration of primary structural elements. Fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present or scour may have removed substructure support. Unless the bridge is closely monitored, it may be necessary to close the bridge until corrective action is taken.
• 1: "Imminent failure condition" , major deterioration or section loss present in critical structural components or obvious vertical or horizontal movement affecting structure stability. Bridge is closed to traffic, but corrective action may put it back in light service.
• 0: Failed condition , out of service, beyond corrective action
• N: Not applicable

Culverts do not have superstructures, substructures or decks so they are rated only on the condition of the culvert as a whole. They're also rated on a scale of zero to nine.

Every Ohio bridge and culvert in poor condition

Consult the map below for a look at every Ohio bridge and culvert in poor condition.

What do these bridge terms mean?

There are three main components of a bridge that determine its overall condition: superstructure, substructure and deck.

A bridge's superstructure is what the road sits on; usually concrete, steel beams or a combination of the two. The substructure is what holds the superstructure up; supports, piers or abutments. A bridge is like a capital letter "T," the superstructure is the horizontal line at the top of the letter and the substructure is the vertical line supporting it.

A deck, meanwhile, is the surface of a bridge. Normally, this means a paved road, but it could also be railroad tracks, wood, or any other material suitable for crossing.

Culverts are also included in the National Bridge Inventory. These structures are tunnels dug into the ground to allow water to pass beneath them.

The FHWA also uses a few engineering terms to describe damage to bridges, namely section loss, spalling and scour.

Section loss is when a main piece of a bridge's structure, like a pier or a support beam, loses some of its "cross-sectional area" due to decay or damage. Spalling is when a chunk of concrete breaks off, leaving it pitted and less structurally sound. Scour is when erosion, usually from water, wears away the ground surrounding the foundation of a bridge.

How are Ohio's bridges maintained?

Federal law requires the Ohio Department of Transportation to inspect every bridge on a public roadway once every two years, but they often manage to inspect most of the state's bridges annually, Bruning said.

"Some of the better condition bridges, fairly new bridges, we do go back to the federal standard of every two years because, honestly, it's quite a bit of work to inspect every bridge on an annual basis," he said.

The only public bridges ODOT does not have to inspect are those owned by the federal government.

Once an inspection finds an issue with a public bridge, maintenance teams from county governments, township governments, cities or ODOT conduct repairs depending on where the bridge is located.

In the past, bridges in rural areas or on small local road networks often faced the most hurdles in getting repairs because of the high cost of fixing bridges, but that trend has started to be reversed, Black said.

"I think we're starting to see more local areas, and this is actually something we see in Ohio, there are a number of county and local ballot initiatives to try and raise local transportation funds to address some of these issues," she said.

Some of the most common damage bridges incur is when concrete chips away to reveal rebar underneath. While this may look concerning, it doesn't signal any structural damage to the bridge.

"The bulk of the structural integrity is actually inside the rebar. The concrete that you would see outside the rebar is simply protecting that. So I think sometimes someone might look at a bridge and say, 'Oh, that looks like it's in really bad shape,'" he said.

A bridge in poor condition isn't unsafe either, Bruning said.

"I never even think twice when I drive across a bridge in Ohio. It's just not something that I'm worried about because I know how much goes into keeping those bridges in good shape," he said.

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Expect traffic delays as Michigan Medicine bridge project advances in Ann Arbor

• Updated: May. 13, 2024, 2:06 p.m. |
• Published: May. 13, 2024, 9:11 a.m.

The East Medical Center Drive bridge over the Amtrak line in front of Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor on Sept. 21, 2021. Alyte Katilius | The Ann Arbor News

• Lucas Smolcic Larson | [email protected]

ANN ARBOR, MI - A $14-million rehabilitation and widening of an Ann Arbor bridge at the entrance to the University of Michigan’s hospitals is entering a new phase.

Commuters will experience delays and officials recommend they seek alternate routes, if possible.

Beginning Monday, May 20, a new set of restrictions will begin for the second phase of the East Medical Center Drive bridge construction, a hotly-debated project years in the making.

Read more: $14M project to widen Michigan Medicine bridge in Ann Arbor moving forward

Construction crews will shrink the available travel lanes on the bridge, closing the west half of the structure to begin replacing the bridge deck, relocating utilities and making other improvements, city officials said.,

One vehicle lane in each direction on the bridge will remain open throughout the duration of the project, officials said.

However, during the new phase of construction, running through Sept. 6, no northbound East Medical Center Drive left turn will be allowed onto westbound Fuller Road, according to the city. A detour will route traffic right along eastbound Fuller Road to the two Fuller Road left-turn lanes across from the Fuller Park pool.

Southbound Maiden Lane traffic will also not be allowed to turn left onto eastbound Fuller Road, officials said. Traffic will be routed north on Maiden Lane, east on Plymouth Road, south on Murfin Avenue and south on Bonisteel Boulevard back to Fuller Road.

The sidewalk on the west side of the bridge will be closed during the new phase of construction, with pedestrians detoured to the east side.

A map shows a series of closures and traffic restrictions for the second phase of the East Medical Center Drive bridge rehabilitation and widening project in Ann Arbor, near the University of Michigan hospitals. Phase 2 of the project is scheduled to run from Monday, May 20 to Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. City of Ann Arbor

Lane and sidewalk closures are also planned as a result of the project on West Medical Center Drive near the bridge, with traffic maintained, according to the city’s project website and a map of the shutdowns.

Crews will also be building a new East Medical Center Drive dedicated right-turn lane to the Rogel Cancer Center entrance, according to the project summary.

The costs of project, meant to remedy deteriorating conditions on the bridge and also improve traffic flow at the entrance drive to the Michigan Medicine complex, are being shared between the city and the University of Michigan.

A third stage of construction is planned in mid-September, with a fourth coming in December and final work taking place in the spring of 2025, according to the city.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page , the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free “ 3@3 Ann Arbor ” daily newsletter.

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George Washington Bridge reopens after police activity caused major delays for morning commute

By Renee Anderson

Updated on: May 15, 2024 / 7:28 PM EDT / CBS New York

NEW YORK --  All lanes of the George Washington Bridge have reopened after police activity caused major delays for the Wednesday morning commute.

Drivers heading into Manhattan were advised to use the Holland or Lincoln tunnels instead, but traffic backed up there, as well, because of the overflow.

The GWB right lanes were closed in both directions on the upper and lower decks for the early morning rush due to police activity in the area.

Police say the lanes were shut down out of an abundance of caution in response to reports of a possible demonstration on the bridge, but demonstrators never arrived.

There was a 90-minute wait to get through the toll plaza, and the delays caused gridlock on the nearby Turnpike 80 approach, the Palisades and Route 4.

"During morning rush hour at all Hudson river crossings, customers should expect the possibility of significant delays. We strongly encourage commuters to allow for extra travel time and consider using public transportation," the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey posted on social media.

The GWB Bus Terminal was also closed for most of the morning but reopened around 10:30 a.m. Buses were picking up and dropping off between 178th and 179th streets on Fort Washington Avenue.  

The George Washington Bridge stretches across the Hudson River to connect Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan and Fort Lee in Bergen County, New Jersey. The suspension bridge has an upper and lower deck with a total of 14 lanes. 

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Renee Anderson is a Digital Producer at CBS New York, where she covers breaking news and other local stories. Before joining the team in 2016, Renee worked at WMUR-TV.

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FDOT: New Howard Frankland Bridge could open this year

TAMPA, Fla. — Florida Department of Transportation officials say construction on the massive Howard Frankland Bridge project is moving along well, and because of that, drivers may be able to use it as early as this year. 

“If you’re driving across the bay, you really get to see the progress," said FDOT project manager David Alonso. "We’re over 50% complete now."

What You Need To Know

Fdot officials say the new howard frankland bridge may be open to traffic later this year construction on the massive project started in 2020 the new bridge will be the four-lane southbound span for traffic on i-275 going from tampa to st. petersburg, while the current southbound span will be flipped for northbound traffic the new bridge will also include four new tolled express lanes, two in each direction, to help with traffic congestion.

Alonso said the project, which started in 2020, is the largest bridge being built in Florida by deck area.

FDOT officials say crews have placed nearly 70% of the deck, which is what cars will eventually be driving on. They’ve also already driven 100% of the pilings, the long poles that support the new bridge.  

Alonso said that means crews should be done with the water part of the project soon.

“Once we’re out of the water completely, it’s a rinse and repeat operation," Alonso said. "So we’re looking good."

Barring any major issues — a busy hurricane season, for example — Alonso said he hopes to have the new bridge open to traffic later this year.

Once the new bridge is open, it will be the new four-lane southbound span for traffic on I-275 going from Tampa to St. Petersburg. The current southbound span will be flipped for northbound traffic.

The old northbound bridge will eventually be demolished.

The new bridge will also include four new tolled express lanes, two in each direction, to help with traffic congestion. Plus, FDOT is installing a multi-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians.

While it may open to traffic later this year, FDOT officials say the total completion of the project will be in 2025.

“I think we’re going to see immediate use of this facility. And people are going to love it," Alonso said. "This is an awesome project that I get to be involved in."

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Blinken says he'll work with US Congress to respond to ICC move on Gaza

The Biden administration is willing to work with Congress to respond to the International Criminal Court prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over the Gaza war, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, amid Republican calls for U.S. sanctions against court officials.

Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse lost power twice before slamming into pillar, NTSB finds

Two blackouts triggered by the unexpected tripping of electrical breakers caused a container ship to slam into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, sending it tumbling into Baltimore Harbor and killing six people, federal investigators said in a preliminary report released Tuesday.

The National Transportation Safety Board report said the 947-foot Singapore-flagged Dali suffered a pair of power losses in the minutes before it struck the bridge, leaving the ship without propulsion to help steer away from one of the bridge's piers. After radioing for help, the crew dropped its anchor in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a collision.

But it was too late: A crew member told investigators that as he was releasing a brake on the anchor, he had to escape the collapsing bridge.

The NTSB is still investigating factors that might have played roles in the crash, including the design and operation of the Dali's power distribution system, which includes the breakers, the report said.

The report noted, however, that tests of the Dali's fuel did not identify any quality concerns. The NTSB is also helping local authorities decide whether the protection of bridge piers in the harbor need to be improved, the report said.

The Dali, which had been chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, was bound for Sri Lanka when it struck the bridge at 1:28 a.m. March 26. Minutes before the crash, the ship's lights went out, then briefly flickered back on, and black smoke billowed from the stack — signs of the power losses.

Seconds after impact, the bridge, considered a jewel of the city, collapsed into the depths of the Patapsco River , killing six roadwork crew members who were on it in what  may be the most expensive maritime disaster  in history. Two workers were rescued from the river. All 22 crew members on the ship survived, along with two pilots who were helping the Dali navigate the harbor.

The catastrophe took seconds, as captured by video that showed cars and trucks on the bridge just before impact. 

The preliminary NTSB report also revealed that the Dali had suffered a blackout 10 hours before the collision during in-port maintenance. That blackout was triggered by a mistake by a crew member, the report said.

The connection between the earlier blackout and the one that preceded the deadly accident remains under investigation, the NTSB said in its report.

The report noted that just before the Dali departed the port, its captain told a local pilot assigned to guide the ship out of the harbor that the ship was in good working order.

Two tugboats assisted the Dali as it left the dock and moved into the harbor, then pulled away, according to the report. The pilot handed control of the ship to an apprentice, and not long after, the first blackout occurred. The senior pilot took back control.

An emergency generator restored power to the Dali, and the pilots called for help from a tugboat. The pilot ordered the anchor to be dropped. The pilot's dispatcher called police and the Coast Guard.

A second blackout then hobbled the Dali, and again, a generator restored power. But there was no propulsion to assist with steering.

One of the pilots got on marine radio to warn other boats. Police ordered the bridge closed to traffic, leaving only the roadwork crew on the span.

The Dali then hit the bridge.

It is rare for ships of that size to lose power and rarer still for it to happen in a narrow channel near the pillars of a major bridge. A last-minute mayday and quick actions on the ground most likely averted a much higher casualty count.

A weekslong search turned up the bodies of the six construction workers, that last of which was recovered May 7. The NTSB and the FBI opened investigations into the collapse. The city of Baltimore filed a legal claim against the Dali's owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and its manager, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., alleging negligence and full liability for the collapse.

In pas t st atements , Synergy and Grace Ocean have expressed sympathy "to everyone affected and their families" but have declined to comment on the cause of the crash, noting the unfinished investigations and the ongoing legal proceedings. Maersk has said in statements that its "thoughts are with all parties impacted by the situation" but stressed that it neither owned nor operated the Dali. Maersk has said it would conduct an investigation of its own.

On Monday, precision explosive charges dismantled a span of the bridge that had come down on the container ship, finally freeing the vessel. 

President Joe Biden has vowed that the government will help rebuild the bridge as soon as possible, as the Port of Baltimore is a major part of the Northeast economy and the busiest port for car imports and exports.

Breaking News Reporter

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Ryan Nobles is a correspondent covering Capitol Hill.

Jon Schuppe is an enterprise reporter for NBC News, based in New York.