PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — From cruises to highways, the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge this week will certainly have an impact on travel, which could trickle to the Greater Philadelphia region.
Three popular cruise lines — Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian — utilize the Port of Baltimore. The port is a favored place for travelers from the entire Mid-Atlantic area, including Philadelphia, to board the ocean liners.
“For those who don't like to fly, it's a great option, because you don't have to fly down to Florida, Miami [or] Fort Lauderdale, to catch a cruise down into the Caribbean. You can go right out of Baltimore,” said Jana Tidwell, with AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Baltimore was an easy drive from the Philadelphia area, less than two hours.”
While those companies work with customers and plan ahead, Tidwell says anyone who utilizes I-95 in and around Baltimore will probably see the effects, especially during the coming summer travel months.
“People drive up and down that corridor all summer long [for] road trips, vacations, so those routes are going to be different, whether you utilized the Key Bridge or not, because other arteries will see the overflow,” Tidwell says.
Officials have suspended waterway traffic in and out of the port after a cargo ship lost power and collided with the Key Bridge Tuesday morning, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River. Crews on Wednesday recovered the remains of two construction workers who fell into the river during the wreck. Four others are still missing and presumed dead.
Carnival says it’s temporarily relocating passengers to Norfolk, Virginia. It’s still unclear what Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, which also use the port, are planning.
Meanwhile, it’s estimated that last year, about 444,000 people boarded cruises from the Port of Baltimore.
Tidwell suggests talking to a travel advisor if you have any trips planned out of Baltimore coming up. At the end of the day, however, she reminds travelers to keep things in perspective.
“We are looking at a situation where there has been loss of human life,” she said. “That is the top priority and should be top of mind as we navigate the inconveniences that lie ahead for consumers and travelers.”