Crews begin removing debris from water WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio [Video]

BALTIMORE — Crews in Baltimore were working to remove the first pieces of wreckage from the waters of the Patapsco River on Saturday, the first steps toward reopening the shipping channel after a freighter struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse early Tuesday.

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U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference on Saturday that his crew was aiming to lift the first segment of the bridge “just north of that deep draft shipping channel,” The New York Times reported.

Gilreath said the task was expected to be long and arduous.

“Much like when you run a marathon, you’ve got to take the first few steps,” Gilreath told reporters.

Gov. Wes Moore said that large cranes are being used to clear the area of a substantial piece of the bridge after its collapse, WBAL-TV reported.

“The north sections of the Key Bridge are going to be cut up and …