what is a bridge sentence essay

What Is a Bridge Sentence and How to Write a Transition in an Essay

14 April 2024

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Bridge sentences are important in connecting two independent phrases, expressions, word combinations, or arguments in a paragraph or an essay. Basically, this guideline on how to write a good bridge sentence in an essay or a research article is worth reading because it entails practical ways to write connecting statements. Moreover, the article entails examples of various types of bridge statements, which mean linking phrases that provide concise information on how to ensure a proper flow of ideas in any paper using connecting statements. They allow writers to communicate effectively throughout their essays. The different types of bridge statements include topic, transitional, and concluding sentences with pointers. In this case, topic phrases introduce the main ideas in a passage, while transitional statements create a unique connection between ideas or thoughts. Besides, concluding sentences contain a clear flow of concepts and link them to other sections. However, one must select appropriate transitioning words to create appropriate bridge sentences.

General Aspects of How to Write an Outstanding Bridge Sentence in an Essay

Good essays must have a permanent quality to their content, with a unique flow of ideas and concepts. In this case, bridge sentences are useful in connecting two independent clauses, phrases, word combinations, statements, or claims . Hence, the guideline focuses on how to write a bridge sentence with its definition and meaning and provides clear examples that one can follow to create different types of essays . In turn, people should bother reading this guideline as it focuses on crucial aspects of creating various types of papers , reports, and articles. Because essays are central to advancing knowledge, one must use bridge sentences effectively to ensure effective communication.

Definition of a Bridge Sentence and Its Meaning

From a simple definition, a bridge sentence is a general term that refers to a set of phrases that link ideas and create a smooth transition between concepts in an essay or a research paper . Some examples of bridging phrases include topic, transitional, concluding statements, and pointers. In turn, a single essay or research paper may contain all these types of connecting phrases. Hence, a bridge sentence means many phrases that enable readers to relate all ideas presented in a paper because of an enhanced flow of information and logical order of ideas. A deeper explanation of different types of bridge sentence include:

• Topic Sentence : Topic sentences reveal the main message explained in a single paragraph and its relationship to a central thesis statement . Every paragraph must begin with a single topic sentence that relates to an initial argument of a paper as a sub-theme. This bridge sentence must contain a single main concept discussed in the section.   
• Transitional Sentence: Transitional sentences create a smooth connection between ideas presented in one passage. A good paragraph in an essay should have a chronological and logical flow of ideas. These bridge sentences allow a sequential presentation of thoughts.     
• Concluding Sentence: Concluding sentences summarize information and provide a link between two paragraphs, such as a current passage and a next one. In this case, good paragraphs contain a clear summary of all presented ideas. A concluding statement should appear at the end of a single passage as a bridge sentence to tie all the thoughts together.    
• Pointer Sentence : Pointers are useful in clarifying the main claim by guiding readers through the structure and argument of an essay or a research paper. For example, pointers refer readers to the previous claim, paragraph, argument, or thesis statement. In this case, they allow the audience to relate concepts and gain better insights into the presented ideas.  

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Unique Features of Writing Bridge Sentences in Essays or Research Papers & Examples

Bridge sentences are different, with unique features. What comes after a hook in an essay introduction is a transitional word. For example, a scholarly article or an academic essay may have various connecting statements. Their features depend on the purpose and location within a particular passage. Besides, authors may choose linking phrases to invoke unique thoughts or create desirable emotions. The following are descriptions and examples of different bridge sentences. 

🔹 Transitional Sentences & Bridge Example

Transition sentences are unique because they show readers how different sections of an essay connect. Transition sentences are useful in linking the college essay introduction , body, and conclusion paragraphs to create a well-organized flow of information. Placing this bridge claim at the beginning of a new paragraph helps to link it to the previous one. An example of a transition sentence is:

Further evidence supporting the hypothesis is that psychological well-being promotes student performance due to increased concentration levels.

This sentence contains information that complements the previous paragraph by providing more support for the same concept.

🔹 Topic Sentences & Bridge Example

Topic sentences are unique because they indicate the paragraph’s subject and central point. Every paragraph in an essay must begin with a topic sentence. This opening statement in a paragraph may provide a connection between the main ideas and indicate how they connect to one of three themes of a 3-point thesis . Besides, this bridge sentence forms the foundation of the supporting evidence. An example of a topic sentence is:

Existing research has consistently shown that the meat industry is unsustainable due to its detrimental environmental impacts.

This phrase introduces the passage’s main point and focuses on the meat industry’s negative environmental impacts, like other thesis statement examples . The entire paragraph should expound on this issue by using and citing credible sources .

🔹 Concluding Sentences & Bridge Example

A concluding sentence is unique because it acts as an indicator that a specific paragraph is coming to an end. This bridge sentence contains a summary of the information presented in a section. However, a conclusion does not include any new information. A practical example of a concluding statement to end a paragraph in an essay is:

Evidently, the meat industry contributes to greenhouse emissions due to methane released from animal manure.

This assertion summarizes the facts presented in a single paragraph on how the meat industry affects the environment, like other conclusion examples .  

🔹 Pointers & Bridge Example

Pointers refer to information that enables readers to understand a situation or a piece of information. These bridge statements work as topic sentences for entire sections of an essay or a research paper. In this case, they inform readers that a paper is taking a turn in its core argument. For instance, a pointer may indicate that the writer is delving into a related topic, like a counterargument, stepping up its claims with complex details, or pausing to give important historical or scholarly background. Moreover, these bridge sentences remind readers about what an essay is about and why it is written. An example of a pointer is:

For people to understand the causes of riots, it would be useful to apply sociological theories, like psychoanalytical social contagion.

This sentence points the readers to a change in the explanation strategy to include sociological theories to understand the main subject.  

🔹 Classical Bridge Sentences & Bridge Example

A classic bridge sentence is unique because it helps authors to point to previous paragraphs and introduce the topics for a new paragraph. This bridge statement is useful when writing texts with multiple passages having related information. An example of a classic bridge sentence structure is:

This advantage makes transformational leadership effective in promoting employee collaboration. However, besides enhancing communication and cooperation, it is important to mention that transformational leadership allows people to set goals and higher expectations, eventually achieving higher performances.

This phrase, which consists of two sentences, points to the previous paragraph by mentioning the advantage of transformational leadership. Furthermore, this bridge claim introduces the theme for the next passage by mentioning how this leadership style empowers employees to create achievable goals.

🔹 Question-Answer Sentences & Bridge Example

Question-answer bridge is unique because it points to the previous paragraph and introduces the main argument of the next passage. In this case, questions serve as the pointer to the previous section, and the answer connects and introduces the theme for the current passage. An example of a question-answer bridge sentence structure is:

But does transformational leadership promote employee collaboration? Surely yes, because this leadership enhances communication and cooperation among employees. When comparing transformational leadership to other management strategies, it allows people to set goals and higher expectations to achieve higher performances.

🔹 Reiteration Sentence & Bridge Example

A reiteration bridge sentence is unique because it allows writers to use repetition to transition between ideas. This type of bridge statement allows people to emphasize important concepts that the audience should acknowledge in an essay. For instance, a reiteration bridge sentence may involve the incorporation of opposite meanings. An example of a reiteration bridge is:

Demonstrations and picketing lead to unity and victory on the one hand and defeat and loss of life on the other.

This bridge sentence has phrases with contrasting meanings that point to the previous passage and provide a link to the current one. The first part points to the previous passage on the advantages of protests and strikes. The second part introduces the information presented in the current paragraph, which relates to the negative impacts of the dissent march.    

🔹 Complication Sentence & Bridge Example

A complication bridge sentence is unique since it contains a pointer, a transition word, a reference to a previous paragraph, and states the main point of the current paragraph. An example of this bridge sentence structure is:

Such advantages of transformational leadership encourage employees to cooperate in making important decisions; however, it is not as effective in democratic governance in enabling leaders to engage their subordinates in addressing emerging and existing issues.

This example has a pointer, “such,” as a bridge claim that refers to the previous paragraph. The transition word, “however,” signals to readers that transformational leadership is ineffective compared to other governance styles. Finally, it references the previous paragraph and states the main argument for the current passage that democratic leadership is better.

Schematic Examples for Writing Purposeful Bridge Sentences in an Essay

• Making an example: (The next idea) clearly illustrates / indicates / suggests / means / underlines that (the previous idea) by / in / from / on / with / within … (explanation).

Enhanced employee productivity clearly illustrates that management by walking around is better than autocratic governance because it enables leaders to identify and address problems.

• Showing a cause-effect relationship: (The previous idea) led to / results in / has allowed / improved / significantly impacted / directly caused / was the reason / (the next idea) … (explanation).

Implementing peer support to new employees improved department cooperation and innovation .

• Giving a counterexample: Even though / although / even if (the previous idea) is ‘describing the situation,’ (the next idea ) … (explanation).

Even though rewarding employees is the accepted way to enhance productivity, allowing them free time to work on interesting concepts promotes innovativeness and efficiency.

• Emphasizing a point: (The previous idea) is important / significant / crucial / essential / vital / or cannot be omitted / denied / ignored because / since (the next idea) … (explanation).

Engaging workers in identifying and addressing problems is essential in management because it enables them to feel acknowledged by the company’s top leadership.

• Contrasting: (The previous idea) differs from / can be contrasted with / is not the same as (the next idea) in how / because / since … (explanation).

Disciplining children through corporal punishment differs from empowering them because it instills fear instead of encouraging them to engage in constructive behaviors.

• Comparing: (The previous idea) is similar to / can be compared with / is the same as / has some vivid similarities with (the next idea) because / since … (explanation).

Brachytherapy resembles external beam radiotherapy because it mainly aims to shrink cancerous tumors.

• Bridge sequencing: (The previous idea) comes before / starts with / comes after (the next idea) … (explanation).

Establishing strategic goals for a company comes before performance appraisals and signing performance contracts.

• Proving: (The previous idea) means / suggests / indicates / proves / states / implicates that (the next idea) … (explanation).

Declining academic performance among adolescents indicates an inability to cope with emerging social challenges.

• Complicating: Yes / sure / arguably / indeed, (the previous idea), but because of that / however / on the other hand, (the next idea) … (explanation).

Yes, academic advancements among staff members should lead to promotions, but because of that, many people may obtain academic papers fraudulently.

• Adding a bridge precision: The researchers / authors / scholars / experts / professionals explain in more detail / provide more insight / analyzed / included (the previous idea) in their paper / article / work / investigation / study / research regarding (the next idea ) … (explanation).

The authors explain in more detail that using renewable energy sources lowers the cost of manufacturing products in their paper regarding sustainable management.

• Clarifying: Yes / sure / arguably / indeed, (the previous idea) is sometimes ‘describing the situation,’ but this aspect / feature / concept / element / characteristic doesn’t mean / work / result in (the next point) … (explanation).

Poor prognosis is sometimes the case in chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, but this aspect does not mean cancer is incurable.

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Writing Types of Transition Elements in Bridge Sentences

💠 sequential bridge transitions.

Bridge sentences that contain statements on order and sequence of information should have sequential transitions. These transitioning words or bridge phrases allow one to organize essays or research papers by numerical sequence. Moreover, they indicate a continuation of thoughts or actions by referring to previously mentioned information, indicating excursions, and concluding or summing up ideas. Sequential connecting words allow readers to understand the logical development of concepts presented in an essay. Some examples of sequential transitions include:

• further on,
• consequently,
• incidentally.    

💠 Comparative Bridge Transitions

Comparison transition words in an essay establish a relationship between things or ideas. In this case, comparative bridge words and phrases are essential in explaining what two things have in common. Writers can use comparison words to demonstrate similarities between thoughts, objects, or concepts. Moreover, these bridge elements focus on similitudes only as opposed to variations in a sentence. Some examples of comparative transitions include:

• in the same way,
• regardless,
• at the same time,
• in like manner,
• compared to,
• nonetheless.

💠 Contrastive Bridge Transitions

Contrastive bridge words indicate the difference between ideas or objects. These bridge sentence transitions are important when presenting polar, different, or conflicting ideas. Contrastive transitions allow authors to connect opposing ideas and thoughts understandably. Including conflicting thoughts or ideas in an essay can enhance its quality by allowing readers to evaluate them critically. In an essay, contrastive bridge elements become crucial in presenting contradictory thoughts and opinions. Some examples of contrastive transitions include:

• in contrast,
• conversely,
• dissimilarly,
• on the contrary,
• nevertheless,
• on the one hand,
• contrasted with,
• even though
• alternatively.

💠 Summing-Up Bridge Transitions

Summing-up bridge transitions are useful in drawing the reader’s attention to the main argument. In this case, one must use appropriate transitions to summarize a discussion or a paragraph. For instance, outstanding essays should have a summary of the main ideas in their conclusions. Summing-up bridge sentences are common when writers use statements to conclude a paragraph or summarize an essay. Some examples of summing-up transitions include:

• essentially,
• in conclusion,
• summing up,
• in other words,
• the main point is,
• this boils down to,
• in this case,
• as a result
• for that reason,
• conclusively.

Examples of Transition Elements

• Introduce the next idea: as such, essentially, therefore, for instance, basically, in particular, notably, hence.
• Referring to the previous idea: indeed, moreover, furthermore, also, according to, additionally, so.
• Introducing a conclusion paragraph: in summary, in conclusion, thus, summing up, to conclude.
• Showing a similarity: in like manner, equally, likewise, at the same time.
• Showing a contrast : contrarywise, opposite to, dissimilarly, nonetheless, but, instead.
• Giving an example: such as, perhaps, for example, to demonstrate, to suppose, to consider.
• Showing a bridge causation: consistent with, because of, owing to, by reason of, subsequently, given that.
• Showing time relations: subsequently, then, later, next, formerly, each time, whereas.
• Showing space relations: directly above, flanking, under, outside, at this point, opposite, neighboring, reverse.

Summing Up on How to Write a Perfect Bridge Sentence in an Essay or a Research Paper

• Bridge sentences help to connect two independent phrases, expressions, or arguments.
• Writers must provide concise information to ensure the organic flow of information in an essay using connecting sentences.
• Effective use of bridge statements allows writers to communicate effectively throughout their essays or research papers.
• Topic sentences reveal the main message explained in a single paragraph and its relationship to a central thesis statement.
• Transitional sentences create a smooth connection between ideas presented in one passage.
• Concluding sentences summarize information and provide a link between two paragraphs.
• Bridge sentences require an appropriate selection of transitioning words for writing an essay.

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Bridge Sentences

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Imagine a world without bridges, and we mean the bridges that connect pieces of land together for us to travel from one place to another. The bridge could be as short as those build over rivers or as long as the Golden Gate Bridge along the Pacific, yet their purpose remains the same. In a similar sense, bridge sentences in writing and speech serve as transitions to connect two similar or opposing ideas together. In this article, we will discuss the basic function of bridge sentences in communication.

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What are Bridge Sentences – Defining

A bridge sentence, also known as a paragraph bridge, is a type of topic sentence that helps connect an old paragraph or idea to a new one. It conveys what the new paragraph is about and how it relates to the one introduced prior to it. The trick to doing so is to create a smooth shift of thoughts by bringing these ideas closer together. If the bridge isn’t constructed properly, then it will fail to convey the right message to its readers. These transitions can sometimes be found in the first line of the paragraph, but you can also find them at the end of a paragraph in some cases.

Short Bridge Sentences

• Moving from historical context to current applications, it’s clear that this technology has evolved significantly.
• On a related note, this brings us to another significant aspect.
• However, this perspective changes when we look at the situation from a different angle.
• Furthermore, this development has implications for both our short-term strategies and long-term goals.
• Conversely, critics argue that this approach may overlook some fundamental concerns.
• Building upon this point, we can see how it directly influences other trends in the field.
• Despite these advancements, several challenges remain unresolved.
• Next, let’s turn our attention to the effects of these changes.
• To better understand this phenomenon, a closer examination of the data is necessary.

Simple Bridge Sentences

• Let’s now consider another aspect of the same issue.
• This leads us to the next point.
• Similarly, we see a related pattern emerging in other areas.
• Contrasting with this idea, another perspective highlights a different issue.
• With this in mind, we can further explore the implications.
• This sets the stage for understanding the broader impact.
• Moreover, this connection is crucial for our discussion.
• This example clearly illustrates the main point.
• Turning to a different example, we can see how this applies in other contexts.
• To delve deeper, let’s examine a specific case.

Words to Start Bridge Sentences

What is the purpose of bridging paragraphs.

While writing an essay or any academic or business paper, using transitional devices such as bridge sentences is essential in connecting similar thoughts together. This serves as an escort from a previous topic being discussed to a new one.

For example, the bridge sentence of an introductory paragraph is typically found between the ‘hook’ and the thesis statement . The hook is crafted to draw attention, while the bridge sentence is used to slowly introduce the thesis statement to readers. They serve as a clue for readers to understand what was being mentioned in a given article or study, what will be discussed next, and how the two topics relate to one another.

The function of a bridge sentence within multiple paragraphs of an essay writing is also similar to the one previously stated. But, instead of starting each paragraph with a topic sentence, the bridge is used to create a smooth transition of thoughts. Here, the speaker briefly discusses the previous point given in order to tie it to a new point.

Types of Transitions

When it comes to writing a paper, bridge sentences are generally referred to as transitional statements. These statements may consist of a few words or they can make up a whole sentence outline or paragraph. But, keep in mind that these transitions would depend on the relationship being conveyed in the write-up. To understand the proper use of these transitions, you can study the following types:

• Sequential Transitions –  Bridge sentences with sequential transitions that demonstrate a logical flow of ideas in a write-up. For example, words such as ‘thus’, ‘therefore’, and ‘then’ show a relationship between the past and the current point being discussed.
• Comparative Transitions –  This type of transitional words and phrases can come in handy, especially when the relationship between two ideas isn’t so obvious. These words serve as an effective instrument in drawing analogies that are difficult to comprehend at first. Examples of such include words and phrases like ‘also’, ‘just as’, ‘like’, and ‘similarly’.
• Contrastive Transitions – For instances when you’re neither looking at similarities nor describing relationships but instead focusing on contrasting qualities, these transitions can be extremely useful. Not only can these transitions help emphasize central ideas in a compare-and-contrast essay, but they can also help debunk a claim or point out the opposite side of an issue. Examples that fall under this category include ‘though’, ‘but’, ‘however’, ‘nevertheless’, ‘nonetheless’, ‘then again’, ‘on the other hand’, and ‘at the same time’. You may also see Short Sentence Example .
• Summing Up Transitions –  After proving your point, you’d want to throw in that one last thought, to sum up, every important detail provided. To ensure that readers don’t miss the main idea of your paragraph or article, these transitional sentences can help in introducing your final thought in a quick yet appropriate manner. Transitional words in this category include ‘essentially’, ‘basically’, ‘ultimately’, ‘in short’, and ‘in other words’.

Examples of Bridge Sentences

Listed below are brief samples of paragraphs consisting of bridge sentences. The bridge sentence in these examples have been  italicized  for your reference: You may also see Cumulative Sentence Example .

Sandra and her father played out in the rain despite the strong protest coming from her mother. They danced to the tune of the rain and watched as each droplet fell from the dark skies. She smiled, thinking of the days when she and her father listened helplessly to the endless rants of her mother as their soaking bodies form small puddles of water inside the house. You may also see Balanced Sentence Examples .

Now, thirty years later, Sandra looks back to these memories with tears filling her baby blues.

The documentary concluded its feature with North Korean soldiers dumping corpses onto a military truck.

Why would any news program carry such gruesome footage? Surely they knew what the consequences were for doing so… Instead, representatives from the news network considered it newsworthy because the clips featured exclusive content and startling visual images that viewers were interested in . You may also see Complex Sentence Example .

The World Health Organization began forming a highly-classified group of scientists to study the outpouring origins and effects of disease X. Though the disease remains unknown to society, it is likely to be a hybrid of past diseases that have been carried by animals. The team of scientists was tasked to discover the possible symptoms of the disease, along with the regions it is likely to spread in first. You may also see Compound Sentence Examples .

In other words, disease X is an existing, scientifically-generated epidemic that is yet to sweep a mass number of the earth’s population in the near future. 

Ultimately, the main objective of a bridge sentence is to help promote clear communication. By defining the relationship between two separate ideas, readers are able to grasp the connection that exists between them. This creates a smooth flow of thoughts to provide an exceptional reading experience for individuals. You may also see Parallel Sentence Example .

Bridge Sentences for Class 1

• Now, let’s talk about something else.
• Next, we are going to learn about…
• Let’s move on to our next fun fact.
• After that, we did… Now, we will do…
• First we learned about A, now let’s look at B.
• Do you remember what we did yesterday? Today, we’re going to learn more about it.
• We finished our story, now let’s draw a picture of our favorite part.
• We counted apples before. Now, let’s count oranges.
• Let’s put away our books and get out our art supplies.
• We sang a song about the weather, now let’s look outside to see what the weather is doing today.

Bridge Sentences for Class 2

• We just read about animals. Now, let’s write our own story about a lion.
• We finished our math worksheet. Next, we’ll use blocks to show what we learned.
• We learned how plants grow. Let’s draw pictures of a plant’s life cycle.
• After playing our counting game, now we will count all the chairs in our classroom.
• We talked about the weather yesterday. Today, we’ll make a weather chart.
• First, we learned about addition. Now, let’s try some subtraction problems.
• Now that we’ve cleaned up our area, let’s gather around for story time.
• We’ve just finished learning our new words. Let’s use them in sentences now.
• We colored pictures in the morning; now, let’s write about the pictures after lunch.
• We talked about healthy foods; next, we will cut out pictures of foods to make our own healthy meal.

Bridge Sentences for Class 3

• Now that we’ve read about dinosaurs, let’s compare them to animals living today.
• We just learned about multiplication. Let’s apply it by calculating how many apples are in these baskets.
• After discussing the water cycle, let’s create a mini water cycle model in class.
• We’ve written our own fairy tales. Now, let’s read them aloud to the class.
• We’ve explored maps of our country. Next, let’s look at maps of other countries and find the differences.
• Now that we know how to measure length, let’s find objects around the classroom to practice measuring.
• We learned about ancient Egypt; now let’s write a day in the life of an Egyptian child.
• After our lesson on planets, let’s use balls of different sizes to create a model of the solar system.
• We discussed the importance of recycling; now, let’s sort these materials into recyclables and non-recyclables.
• We’ve practiced fractions with pizza slices; next, let’s use the same idea with a chocolate bar.

Types of Bridge Sentences

1. continuation bridges.

• These sentences extend the thought from the previous paragraph or introduce additional information that complements the preceding ideas.
• Example: “Furthermore, continuing this program will not only benefit current participants but also future generations.”

2. Contrast Bridges

• Used to introduce a contrasting or opposing viewpoint to the one just discussed, helping to highlight differences.
• Example: “However, despite the previous success of the initiative, recent reports suggest a decline in its effectiveness.”

3. Cause and Effect Bridges

• These bridge sentences explain the cause and effect relationships between ideas, showing how one event leads to another.
• Example: “Consequently, the sudden drop in temperature last winter caused significant damage to the crop yields.”

4. Similarity Bridges

• They draw parallels between two ideas, emphasizing similarities and connections.
• Example: “Similarly, the economic policies of Country X have mirrored the early stages of economic development seen in Country Y.”

5. Clarification Bridges

• These are used to clarify or further explain a point or idea that might not have been fully understood.
• Example: “To clarify, the new policy does not replace the old one but rather expands upon the existing regulations.”

6. Emphasis Bridges

• Emphasis bridges are employed to stress the importance or critical nature of a point just discussed.
• Example: “Indeed, this evidence highlights the urgent need for reform within the sector.”

7. Conclusion Bridges

• Used to signal that a conclusion or summary is forthcoming, wrapping up the discussion.
• Example: “In conclusion, the multiple benefits of this approach clearly outweigh its drawbacks.”

8. Time Sequence Bridges

• These help organize narratives or processes by marking the progression of time or steps.
• Example: “Subsequently, after the initial trials were successful, the next phase of the project commenced.”

How to Write Bridge Sentences

1. understand the purpose of bridge sentences.

• Transition: Bridge sentences help readers move from one paragraph or section to another seamlessly.
• Prediction: They can set the stage for what is coming next, preparing the reader for a shift in tone, argument, or topic.
• Reflection: Bridge sentences can also reflect on the content just covered, making a connection between the previous information and new ideas.

2. Identify the Connection

• Start by clearly understanding the content of both the preceding and following paragraphs.
• Identify the key elements that connect these two paragraphs. This could be a shared theme, a contrasting point, or a cause-and-effect relationship.

3. Choose the Right Type of Transition

• Continuation transitions (furthermore, moreover, additionally) are used when adding similar information or expanding on a point.
• Contrast transitions (however, on the other hand, conversely) introduce an opposing viewpoint or a shift in direction.
• Cause and effect transitions (therefore, as a result, thus) demonstrate the relationship between actions and outcomes.
• Chronological transitions (next, then, after) are useful in narrative or process writing to show the progression of time or steps.

4. Craft the Sentence

• Keep the bridge sentence concise and to the point.
• Use it to gently guide the reader from one idea to the next, ensuring the sentence fits the tone and style of your writing.
• Make sure it incorporates key terms or concepts that are central to both paragraphs, enhancing the thematic continuity of your text.

5. Evaluate its Effectiveness

• After writing your bridge sentence, read the transition aloud to see if it naturally guides you from one idea to the next.
• Check if the bridge sentence helps clarify the relationship between paragraphs. If the connection still feels jarring or abrupt, consider revising the sentence.

Why are bridge sentences used?

Bridge sentences connect paragraphs or sections, ensuring a smooth transition in writing, aiding coherence, and guiding readers from one idea to another seamlessly.

What is a bridge sentence in analogies?

In analogies, a bridge sentence explains the relationship between two seemingly unrelated topics, clarifying how one idea or example parallels or contrasts with another.

How to use the verb bridge in a sentence?

The verb “bridge” denotes the act of making connections or overcoming gaps; e.g., “This meeting aims to bridge the communication gap between departments.”

What are good bridge sentences?

Good bridge sentences effectively link ideas, clarify transitions, and maintain the flow of text, often incorporating transitional phrases like ‘furthermore’, ‘however’, or ‘consequently’.

Text prompt

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Topic sentences and signposts make an essay's claims clear to a reader. Good essays contain both.  Topic sentences   reveal the main point of a paragraph. They show the relationship of each paragraph to the essay's thesis, telegraph the point of a paragraph, and tell your reader what to expect in the paragraph that follows. Topic sentences also establish their relevance right away, making clear why the points they're making are important to the essay's main ideas. They argue rather than report.  Signposts , as their name suggests, prepare the reader for a change in the argument's direction. They show how far the essay's argument has progressed vis-ˆ-vis the claims of the thesis. 

Topic sentences and signposts occupy a middle ground in the writing process. They are neither the first thing a writer needs to address (thesis and the broad strokes of an essay's structure are); nor are they the last (that's when you attend to sentence-level editing and polishing). Topic sentences and signposts deliver an essay's structure and meaning to a reader, so they are useful diagnostic tools to the writer—they let you know if your thesis is arguable—and essential guides to the reader

Forms of Topic Sentences

 Sometimes topic sentences are actually two or even three sentences long. If the first makes a claim, the second might reflect on that claim, explaining it further. Think of these sentences as asking and answering two critical questions: How does the phenomenon you're discussing operate? Why does it operate as it does?

There's no set formula for writing a topic sentence. Rather, you should work to vary the form your topic sentences take. Repeated too often, any method grows wearisome. Here are a few approaches.

Complex sentences.   Topic sentences at the beginning of a paragraph frequently combine with a transition from the previous paragraph. This might be done by writing a sentence that contains both subordinate and independent clauses, as in the example below.

 Although  Young Woman with a Water Pitcher  depicts an unknown, middle-class woman at an ordinary task, the image is more than "realistic"; the painter [Vermeer] has imposed his own order upon it to strengthen it. 

This sentence employs a useful principle of transitions: always move from old to new information.  The subordinate clause (from "although" to "task") recaps information from previous paragraphs; the independent clauses (starting with "the image" and "the painter") introduce the new information—a claim about how the image works ("more than Ôrealistic'") and why it works as it does (Vermeer "strengthens" the image by "imposing order"). 

Questions.   Questions, sometimes in pairs, also make good topic sentences (and signposts).  Consider the following: "Does the promise of stability justify this unchanging hierarchy?" We may fairly assume that the paragraph or section that follows will answer the question. Questions are by definition a form of inquiry, and thus demand an answer. Good essays strive for this forward momentum.

Bridge sentences.   Like questions, "bridge sentences" (the term is John Trimble's) make an excellent substitute for more formal topic sentences. Bridge sentences indicate both what came before and what comes next (they "bridge" paragraphs) without the formal trappings of multiple clauses: "But there is a clue to this puzzle." 

Pivots.   Topic sentences don't always appear at the beginning of a paragraph. When they come in the middle, they indicate that the paragraph will change direction, or "pivot." This strategy is particularly useful for dealing with counter-evidence: a paragraph starts out conceding a point or stating a fact ("Psychologist Sharon Hymer uses the term Ônarcissistic friendship' to describe the early stage of a friendship like the one between Celie and Shug"); after following up on this initial statement with evidence, it then reverses direction and establishes a claim ("Yet ... this narcissistic stage of Celie and Shug's relationship is merely a transitory one. Hymer herself concedes . . . "). The pivot always needs a signal, a word like "but," "yet," or "however," or a longer phrase or sentence that indicates an about-face. It often needs more than one sentence to make its point.

Signposts operate as topic sentences for whole sections in an essay. (In longer essays, sections often contain more than a single paragraph.) They inform a reader that the essay is taking a turn in its argument: delving into a related topic such as a counter-argument, stepping up its claims with a complication, or pausing to give essential historical or scholarly background. Because they reveal the architecture of the essay itself, signposts remind readers of what the essay's stakes are: what it's about, and why it's being written. 

Signposting can be accomplished in a sentence or two at the beginning of a paragraph or in whole paragraphs that serve as transitions between one part of the argument and the next. The following example comes from an essay examining how a painting by Monet,  The Gare Saint-Lazare: Arrival of a Train,  challenges Zola's declarations about Impressionist art. The student writer wonders whether Monet's Impressionism is really as devoted to avoiding "ideas" in favor of direct sense impressions as Zola's claims would seem to suggest. This is the start of the essay's third section:

It is evident in this painting that Monet found his Gare Saint-Lazare motif fascinating at the most fundamental level of the play of light as well as the loftiest level of social relevance.  Arrival of a Train  explores both extremes of expression. At the fundamental extreme, Monet satisfies the Impressionist objective of capturing the full-spectrum effects of light on a scene.

 The writer signposts this section in the first sentence, reminding readers of the stakes of the essay itself with the simultaneous references to sense impression ("play of light") and intellectual content ("social relevance"). The second sentence follows up on this idea, while the third serves as a topic sentence for the paragraph. The paragraph after that starts off with a topic sentence about the "cultural message" of the painting, something that the signposting sentence predicts by not only reminding readers of the essay's stakes but also, and quite clearly, indicating what the section itself will contain. 

Copyright 2000, Elizabeth Abrams, for the Writing Center at Harvard University

The Barker Underground

Writing advice from the harvard college writing center tutors, building bridges between your paragraphs.

by Kenneth Mai

Your essay doesn’t flow. Add some transitions.

Those words – along with comments such as “Needs better transitions,” “Where’s the transition?,” or simply “TRANSITION!!!” – plague many a paper that may perhaps otherwise be brilliant.

See, it’s like this. Pretend that the many ideas you’re churning out within a paper are islands in the ocean. (That’s a metaphor! Sometimes metaphors work nicely in papers! ) Some islands are bigger than others. Some are closer to each other, whilst some may seem to be drifting off far away from all the others. Similarly, some ideas are smaller bits a cohesive whole, while others require a bit more effort to reel in. Your task is to  gather these islands into a sort of kingdom that you rule. But in order  to make sure that you have full control over everything, you need to connect the islands to each other. Now, it’s fine that each island isn’t directly connected to every other island, especially when they’re far enough away from each other to not really be related at all. But ultimately you want all the islands connected to make up a unified whole. So what do you do?

You build bridges!

In the context of writing a paper, these bridges are your transitions. You have two ideas that are related— islands that are close enough that you can build a bridge between them—but ultimately distinct. In order to help your readers across that gulf, then, you need to put in a transition.

But what exactly is a transition? Is it one of the sequential words – “first,” “second,” “finally,” etc. – that were the gold standard of midde school writing? Well…perhaps. But you have many more options now.    The kind of transition you use depends on the relationship that you’re trying to build between two ideas, and those relationships can be quite complex.  Transitions can be as short as a word or a couple of words to something as long as a sentence or even an entire paragraph. What’s important isn’t so much the shape of the transition as the underlying connection that is being made.

Here are a few useful types of transitions to keep in mind.

• Sequential Transitions: Here, we’re not talking so much about “first, second, third.” Rather, this kind of transition points more towards the ideas that logically follow each other. Words such as “therefore” or “then,”  or phrases like “This indicates that…”, show a relationship between the ideas.  These transitions are used when one idea is the premise on which the next idea depends or when the second idea comes as a deduction from the first. Examples: Thus, Therefore, Then; It follows that, This indicates that, This implies that; From this we can see that, What this means is that…
• Comparative Transitions : Sometimes, it’s not so much that one idea is derivative of another, but rather that they share some sort of property. This is especially useful when the relationship between the two ideas isn’t obvious. This type of transition is useful in comparative essays (for obvious reasons) but also instrumental when you are using analogies to make a point about some sort of topic (such as talking about islands to make a point about transitions!) Examples: Like, Also, Similarly; Just as, In the same vein; This idea can also be seen in…, A similar phenomenon is found in …
• Contrastive Transitions: There are times when you’re neither describing premise-conclusion relationships nor looking at similarities, but instead focusing on contrasts: “This author says this, but that author says that.” “This appears to be the case, but in reality, it’s something else.” These transitions are useful not only in compare-and-contrast essays, but also whenever you’re trying to debunk a claim or to show another side of an issue. These words can also help you to move on to an entirely different issue. Examples: But, Though, However, Nevertheless/Nonetheless; Then again, On the other hand, At the same time; This ignores, It’s not…but rather, The difference between…and…is that…
• Summing Up Transitions : You’ve established an idea and thrown lots of brilliant evidence our way. Now what? In order to make sure your readers won’t miss important information, it’s a good idea provide the quick and dirty version of the ideas you just laid out before introducing your big, final insight. Examples: Essentially, Basically, Ultimately; In short, In other words, That is to say; This boils down to, The main point is…

Ultimately, the goal of these tools is to bring a sense of cohesion to your paper by showing the logical progression of your thoughts; they’re signposts telling your reader which bridge to cross and what the two islands linked by that bridge have to do with each other. These signposts ought to be everywhere within your paper, moving your reader between phrases and sentences in addition to paragraphs or larger chunks. Sometimes multiple signposts are needed to guide a reader across the bridge, because of the complex relationship of those two ideas. The primary goal to keep in mind, though, is to make sure your reader has a smooth trip. That’s how you make your paper flow.

In my next post, I’ll offer some examples of transitional sentences and paragraphs.

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What Is a Bridge Statement in English Homework?

How to Write a Thesis & Introduction for a Critical Reflection Essay

A writer uses a bridge statement, or bridge sentence, to link one idea to another and create a smooth transition between ideas. John Trimble explains in "Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing" that essays should maintain a steady flow by "bridging" ideas for the reader. Instead of starting each paragraph with a topic sentence, you can use a bridge sentence to show how the previous idea relates to the idea your article is about to introduce.

Using Bridge Statements

One of the most important bridge statements in an essay, within the introductory paragraph, sets the scene for the reader. The opening statement usually functions as a "hook" or attention grabber to draw in the reader. After this comes your bridge statement, which explains how the opening is relevant to the thesis. The last sentence of the introductory paragraph contains the thesis statement, which demonstrates or sets the stage for what the reader can expect from the rest of your paper.

Paragraph Bridges

Instead of starting with a topic sentence for each paragraph, the writer uses a bridge to make a smooth transition into a new paragraph. Also called a transition idea or transition sentence, it usually discusses the previous point and how it ties in to the new point. The goal is to weave words and ideas together to create a seamless rhetorical tapestry. Your essay should not be a patchwork quilt of jumbled ideas. Bridge sentences provide the chain link between one concept and the next.

Purpose of Bridge Sentences

Bridge sentences resemble topic sentences in the essay structure. They clue in the reader to what the article just mentioned and what will come up next, and how the two topics relate to each other. Expository essays -- the most common essay assigned to students -- inform the reader or give an explanation of a topic based on fact. Persuasive or argumentative essays aim to convince the reader to agree with your point of view by addressing both sides of an argument and refuting the opposition, often in a bridge statement. All essay types make use of bridge statements. For instance, bridge statements in expository essays build a foundation of knowledge by slowly adding on to what has already been presented. Persuasive essays may use bridge statements to introduce a counter argument to hold the reader's attention.

Transitional Keywords

The words you use in your bridge sentences help define the relationship between the paragraphs or ideas you seek to connect. Words such as "consequentially," "therefore" or "accordingly" demonstrate a cause-effect relationship. Words like "whereas," "although" or "nevertheless" establish a contrast between concepts, while "furthermore," "in addition" or "similarly" help you further expand an idea.

Related Articles

How to Write an Introduction to a Reflective Essay

How to write an essay with a thesis statement.

The Functions of Conjunctions in English Argumentative Writing

Ideas for an Imaginative Essay

Comparative Phrases for Essays

How to Write an Introduction to an Analytical Essay

What Is a Diagnostic Paragraph?

How to Write a Comparative Analytical Essay

• Writing Center at Harvard University; Topic Sentences and Signmosting; Elizabeth Abrams; 2000
• The University of Oklahoma: Bridge Sentences
• Long Beach City College: Writing Introductory Paragraphs For Essays
• Purdue University Online Writing Laboratory: Writing Transitions
• DeAnza College: Writing with Style by John R. Trimble

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What is a Bridge in Writing? A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting Effective Writing Bridges

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

Writing bridges are an essential tool for connecting ideas and creating transitions in your written work. A bridge in writing is a sentence or phrase that links two separate ideas together. They can also be used to emphasize the importance of one idea over another, or to add emphasis to an argument. Writing bridges can help to make your writing clear, concise, and captivating.

A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Bridges

Writing bridges can be used to connect ideas within a single sentence, between sentences, or even between paragraphs. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to use them effectively:

How to Use Bridges to Connect Ideas in Your Writing

When writing a bridge, you want to start by identifying the two ideas you want to link together. Once you’ve identified the two ideas, you can begin crafting your bridge. To create an effective bridge, you should consider the following:

• The purpose of your bridge: Is it to emphasize an idea? To introduce a new idea? To provide a contrast between two ideas?
• The tone of your bridge: Will it be formal or informal? Will it be lighthearted or serious?
• The structure of your bridge: Should it be a single sentence or multiple sentences? Should it include a rhetorical question?

Crafting Creative and Effective Writing Bridges

Once you’ve considered the purpose, tone, and structure of your bridge, it’s time to start crafting it. Here are some tips for crafting creative and effective writing bridges:

• Start with a strong transition word or phrase: Transition words and phrases can help to make your writing more fluid and help to emphasize the connection between two ideas. Examples of transition words and phrases include “in contrast,” “on the other hand,” “similarly,” and “nevertheless.”
• Provide a summary of the previous idea: Summarizing the previous idea can help to make your bridge more effective and will help to remind readers of the context. This can be done in a single sentence or with a few sentences.
• Introduce the new idea: After summarizing the previous idea, you can then introduce the new idea. This can be done in a single sentence or with a few sentences.
• Conclude with a strong statement: Finally, conclude your bridge with a strong statement. This will help to emphasize the connection between the two ideas and will leave readers with an impactful impression.

Examples of Writing Bridges Used in Literature

Now that you’re familiar with how to craft effective writing bridges, let’s take a look at some examples of writing bridges used in literature. These examples will help to illustrate the different types of writing bridges and how they can be used in your own writing.

Three Types of Bridges and How to Use Them in Writing

There are three main types of writing bridges: explicit bridges, implicit bridges, and rhetorical bridges. Explicit bridges are direct statements that explicitly state the relationship between two ideas. Implicit bridges use language to imply the relationship between two ideas. Rhetorical bridges use questions or statements to draw attention to a particular idea or to emphasize an argument.

Bridging the Gap: Writing Bridges for Smooth Transitions

Writing bridges can also be used to create smooth transitions in your writing. When transitioning from one idea to another, it’s important to provide a bridge that clearly states the connection between the two ideas. This will help to ensure that readers understand the context and follow the flow of your writing.

Harnessing the Power of Writing Bridges to Enhance Your Storytelling

Finally, writing bridges can be used to enhance your storytelling. By using bridges to emphasize key points, add tension, and create suspense, you can take your storytelling to the next level. Doing so will keep readers engaged and will help to create a captivating story.

Writing bridges are a powerful tool for connecting ideas and creating smooth transitions in your writing. They can be used to emphasize the importance of one idea over another, to add emphasis to an argument, and to enhance your storytelling. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can craft effective writing bridges and use them to improve your writing.

With practice, you can learn to use writing bridges to capture your readers’ attention and engage them in your work.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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Home » Writers-House Blog » English Homework: Bridge Statements

English Homework: Bridge Statements

Writers use bridge sentences, or bridge statements, to connect ideas and to create a smooth transition between them. To make an essay easy to read, you need to connect your ideas, ensuring a smooth flow. Bridge sentences can be used instead of topic sentences at the beginning of a paragraph to explain how previous ideas relate to the new idea that you’re going to introduce in the next paragraph. Learn more about bridge statements with WritersHouse expert opinion.

How to Use Bridge Statements

A bridge statement in the introductory paragraph is especially important because it sets the context for your readers. Usually, the opening statement acts as a hook that grabs attention and makes your audience want to read more. A bridge statement follows the hook, explaining why the opening is relevant to your thesis statement. The last sentence of the introduction must contain the thesis statement, explaining what your readers should expect from the rest of the paper.

Paragraph Bridges

You can start each paragraph with a topic sentence, or you can use a bridge to create a smooth transition to the next paragraph. It is also called a transition sentence or transition idea. Usually, it focuses on the previous point and leads readers to the next point, connecting them logically. Your goal is to make a seamless transition so that your essay will look natural and be easy to read. Bridge sentences help connect different concepts so that you can make sure that your essay makes sense.

The Purpose of Bridge Sentences

Bridge sentences are similar to topic sentences because they perform the same functions in the essay structure. They help readers remember what the writer has mentioned before, connecting this information to the new facts and ideas that will come up next. Simply put, these sentences help explain how different topics relate to each other. Bridge sentences can be used in different essays. For example, expository essays are one of the most common types of writing assignments that are aimed to inform readers or to explain a certain topic based on facts. Argumentative or persuasive essays should convince the audience to agree with the author’s opinion by addressing different perspectives and refuting the opposite opinion. Quite often, writers do it in a bridge statement. When writing an expository essay, your bridge statement may simply add some new information to what you have already presented. In persuasive essays, bridge statements can address a counterargument.

Transitional Keywords

Various transitional words can help you indicate the relationship between different ideas. For example, such words as “accordingly,” “therefore,” and “consequently” illustrate a cause-effect relationship. “Similarly,” “in addition,” and “furthermore” can help you expand your idea, while “nevertheless,” “although,” and “whereas” can establish a contrast.

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Essay Writing Bridge Sentences

Publication Date: 16 August 2022

Bridge sentences, sometimes also referred to as transition sentences, are like real bridges in our physical world. The latter connect two pieces of land and serve to aid communication. They make humans transit from one place to another faster and easier. A similar logic applies to bridge sentences in essay writing, or just about any kind of writing, however, in this case, they help to connect paragraphs, thoughts, and ideas.

Without bridge sentences, an essay would be uncomfortable to read, “bumpy” and overly long. A good bridge in an essay is like a Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco or a Brooklyn Bridge in New Your City – they allow readers (commuters) to go from one paragraph (place) to another smoothly.

What exactly is a bridge sentence?

There are no strict definitions and classifications, and catalogs when it comes to bridge sentences in essay writing. We can call any sentence a bridge sentence, as long as it serves the purpose of transiting the reader’s attention from one piece of text to another. There can be millions of various bridge sentences, some virtually identical, while others may differ drastically in length and content.

A bridge sentence is an ordinary sentence, which connects two pieces of text, usually adjacent paragraphs. For the purpose of effectiveness, a good bridge in an essay should be short and simple, i.e. void of any complicated terms, abbreviations, or contractions.

Here are several examples of bridge sentences connecting two paragraphs:

• The above conclusion doesn’t mean that all teenagers are alike;
• To finally break the intrigue, I would like to tell you the story of our hero…;
• Consequently, many people believe that real knowledge comes from life experience;
• The same logic can be applied to more complex economic systems…;
• However, the behavior of other biological species is usually more complex.

Notice how in many examples, the very first word carries a significant transiting capacity. We will return to this aspect later and review it in a separate section called “Transition words in bridge sentences”.

Location of bridge sentences in an essay

There are no hard rules as to the exact location of transitions in an essay. At the same time, knowing the optimal locations is a key to successful essay writing. From a location point of view, all bridge sentences can be divided into two big categories: topic and opening sentences.

Topic bridge sentences are placed in the introductory paragraph and they are often called statement sentences. They set the spirit for the entire work and define all the successive paragraphs. A topic bridge sentence should follow a hook and a few introductory sentences, which don’t carry any significant meaning.

Opening bridge sentences are the first sentences in each paragraph. They serve the purpose of connecting each new paragraph with the previous one. Unlike the topic sentences, opening sentences don’t define the theme for all paragraphs in an essay. Sometimes students confuse topic bridge sentences with simple topic sentences – although their location is also at the beginning of each paragraph, the latter introduce the readers to each new paragraph and bring in something new as opposed to continuing reasoning from the piece of text above.

Types of bridges and transition words used to glue them together

For anyone to master the skill of flawless essay writing using bridge sentences, it is critical to be aware of several types of bridge sentences, just as there are various types of transitions. A good bridge in an essay stipulates its timely and logical application – in the right place and time.

• Comparative bridge type – this is a very popular transition type used widely in academic and analytical papers. Its essence is simple – you give one example (argument, fact, point) in the first paragraph, and then move on to another one in the second paragraph. Likewise, you may first mention one side of the coin (matter), and then flip it to the other side beginning from the new paragraph. The most common transition words and phrases used to glue the components of a comparative bridge together are as follows: “on the opposite”, “at the same time”, “however”, “additionally”, “just as”, and “similarly”, “likewise”, etc.
• Sequential bridge type – another widely spread type of bridge sentence in essay writing. It is used when the writer wants to continue the sequence of events in the new paragraph. This may happen when the first paragraph becomes too large, or when there is a slight difference between the events (facts, arguments, points, ideas) in sequence. A good bridge in an essay may often be “constructed” using a sequential transition type. To assemble parts of sequential bridges together, students may use the following transition words and phrases: “in addition”, “likewise”, “thus”, “then”, “secondly”, “at second”, “next”.
• Contrastive bridge type – an antagonist of comparative connection. If in your analysis you need to oppose something, to contrast and analyze, you should consider using contrastive bridge sentences. This type of transitional relationship is common for analytical and research papers and is mostly used in graduate-level essay writing. When it comes to transition words and phrases used to build this connection type, they may be as follows: “on the contrary”, “otherwise”, “a different perspective…” “others believe that…”, “nonetheless”, “but”, “on the other hand”, “though”, “however”, etc.
• Conclusive bridge type – as the name suggests, this bridge type is used in conclusive paragraphs. When you want to sum up things, to draw a punch line or a bottom line – you use conclusive transitions. One cannot speak of a good bridge in an essay without referring to a conclusive transition. To make this connection type complete, writers may use such transition words and phrases as “in conclusion”, “to sum up”, “the key takeaway is…”, “ultimately”, “in the end”, “essentially”, the bottom line is…”, “ultimately”.      

An essay is basically a story and as such, it has to flow smoothly. To glue various components of essay writing together, we use bridge sentences. They give our papers a holistic look and a sense of completeness, as opposed to sporadic changes in facts, thoughts, and reasoning in general. For anyone who wants to know how to construct a good bridge in an essay, it is of paramount importance to learn the different types of transitions, including transition words and sentences, and know exactly how and when to apply bridge sentences to make them look natural.

The current article was intended to be a good reference point to start learning this subject and to improve one’s skills in essay writing. It is by no means an exhaustive guide and you are more than welcome to use creativity and come up with unique transition words and phrases to make the best bridge sentences ever!     

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Another L.A. budget bummer: Residential sewer fees set to double by 2028

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Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s David Zahniser, receiving an assist from my colleagues Dakota Smith and Rebecca Ellis, as we discuss L.A.’s political scene.

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It’s been common knowledge around City Hall that this year’s budget process was going to be something of a bummer.

First up was the proposal to cut more than 2,000 unfilled positions — a reduction triggered, in large part, by expensive new salary agreements with the city workforce. At many agencies, those cuts are being accompanied by year-over-year decreases in funding.

Now there’s another piece of the budget likely to annoy Angelenos: higher fees.

The Fire Department is looking to charge more for ambulances, inspections and other services. City Planning is expecting its own fee hikes.

But by far the most significant increase is planned by the Bureau of Sanitation, which is seeking the council’s support for seven sewer fee hikes by mid-2028. (The charge is one of several that appears on the bill sent every two months by the Department of Water and Power.)

The first increase is planned for October. Under the proposal, the bimonthly charge for the typical single-family home would move from $72.27 to $92.08, according to a report issued by the sanitation agency this week. Six more sewer fee hikes would follow, taking the bimonthly charge to $155.55 in July 2028 — more than double what it is now.

The increases are expected to generate nearly $115 million over the coming fiscal year, according to Mayor Karen Bass ’ proposed budget for 2024-25. The money is needed, city officials say, to pay for infrastructure repairs, including upgrades to aging sewer pipes.

“Nobody likes to pay fees. I certainly don’t,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield , who heads the council’s budget committee. “But at the same time, you need your sewer to work. And if the cost of maintaining it is not paid by a fee ... the system is going to break, and the costs will be much more.”

Bass voiced support for the increases, saying they would keep “Angelenos and our beaches, waterways and ocean safe.” So did Councilmember John Lee , who called the rate plan “vital to the health of the city’s wastewater system.”

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez , also on the budget committee, was skeptical. She said she would not support the increases without “an independent and expert analysis.”

“I have an obligation to ensure working families who are already struggling to make ends meet are not disproportionately burdened,” Rodriguez, who represents the northeast San Fernando Valley, said in a statement. “Fee increases of this amount cannot be rushed for political expediency.”

Sanitation officials say they turned to the engineering, construction and consulting company Black & Veatch to help develop the increases. The last set of sewer fee hikes in L.A. was approved in 2012, with the final increase going into effect in 2020, the agency said in its report.

Appearing Friday before the budget committee, city analysts offered another argument for the increases: satisfying the agencies that assess the reliability of the city’s bond programs.

Two years ago, S&P Global Ratings put the bond rating for the wastewater program on a negative outlook, citing concerns about “environmental, social and governance risks,” City Debt Manager Ha To told the committee. At this point, she said, the rating agency’s primary concern is the lack of “an approved rate plan.”

“The entire investment community is looking at the city to raise its rates,” To said.

The Sanitation Bureau has gone through a turbulent few years. Its Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant experienced a massive sewage spill in 2021, drawing sharp scrutiny — and the threat of financial penalties — from water regulators. The agency was also buffeted by a class action lawsuit alleging that many L.A. residents were overcharged for sewer services, which led to the creation of a $57.5-million settlement fund to pay for customer refunds .

If the fee increases are approved, Hyperion would see “significant and necessary investments,” sanitation officials said.

The increases would affect not just single-family homes but also apartments and businesses. For example, the typical bimonthly sewer fee for residential buildings with four units or less, now $145, would reach $299 in July 2028, according to the city’s report.

Money collected from the fees may be used only for sewer and sewage-related purposes. However, the city’s general fund — which pays for basic services like police and fire response — subsidizes low-income residents who are charged the fee. That means the higher the sewer fee, the larger the contribution from the general fund to aid needy families, budget officials said.

State of play

— RUSHING BACK TO L.A.: Bass began the week in Washington, working with other mayors to promote policy changes aimed at assisting homeless veterans . She cut that trip short, flying home early Wednesday in the wake of violent nighttime attacks on pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA.

— DELAYED RESPONSE : By Friday, law enforcement agencies had cleared the UCLA encampment , arresting scores of protesters. But big questions remain, including why it took so long for police to intervene. “There need to be consequences, and there need to be changes,” said David Myers , UCLA professor of Jewish history, who called the incident “a total system failure.”

— PUSHBACK IN EAGLE ROCK: Executive Directive 1, the mayor’s strategy for fast-tracking the production of affordable housing, is under fire in Eagle Rock , where a developer is looking to demolish 17 rent-controlled apartments. That developer wants to replace those homes with a 153-unit affordable housing project, using the mayor’s ED1 process for speedier approval. On Tuesday, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez persuaded her colleagues to seek a temporary ban on such projects in Chinatown and part of Eagle Rock if they would lead to the destruction of five or more rent-controlled units.

— SPEAKING OF RENT CONTROL: Real estate developers have built more than 10,000 units of rent-controlled housing since 2007. But some tenants don’t know they’re living in those units , The Times reports.

— SAFETY SICKOUT: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority warned passengers Friday that buses might experience significant delays, with drivers staging a sickout over worker safety . Bus drivers have voiced increased frustration about violence on the transit system, which has victimized both riders and Metro employees.

— ANOTHER HOMELESS AGENCY? The City Council voted this week to explore the idea of creating a city agency focused exclusively on homelessness . The city already participates in the occasionally derided Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which is governed by a city-county board.

— UP IN FLAMES: Los Angeles County firefighters woke to a major fire in their Huntington Park station Wednesday. The cause of the blaze, which destroyed fire trucks and much of the station, is under investigation.

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• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor’s program to combat homelessness returned to the coastal district represented by Councilmember Traci Park , heading to Pico Boulevard at Centinela Avenue. Inside Safe also went to Hollywood, an area represented by Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez , going to the Sunset Boulevard offramp of the 101 Freeway.
• On the docket for next week: The council committee that focuses on environmental issues is expected to meet Friday to discuss the proposed increases to the sewer service fee mentioned at the start of our newsletter!

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Frank Bruni

Chris christie and bill barr have some explaining to do.

By Frank Bruni

Mr. Bruni is a contributing Opinion writer who was on the staff of The Times for more than 25 years.

I admired the vigor and even eloquence with which Chris Christie, quixotically campaigning for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, made the case against Donald Trump. And I wrote as much .

But what he warrants today isn’t praise. It’s a lesson in chemistry. It’s a tutorial on beverages.

A little more than a week ago, during a public appearance at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Christie told Leigh Ann Caldwell of The Washington Post that he would never back Trump in November but that he also couldn’t bring himself to vote for President Biden. To explain his Biden aversion, Christie used a vocabulary more appropriate for spoiled milk.

“President Biden, in my view, is past the sell-by date,” he said .

The sell-by date matters when you’re purchasing dairy and you have better, fresher alternatives. But when you’re choosing a president and the other candidate is arsenic?

That’s pretty much how Christie spent much of last year describing Trump — as a civic toxin, a poison to us all. And if drinking spoiled milk is the protection against arsenic, you drink the spoiled milk. One means a possible tummy ache. The other can lead to lesions, cancer, even death.

In 2016 and 2020, Trump was a catalyst for bizarre moral relativism and pitiable moral surrender, and it’s happening again.

Christie calculates a false equivalence between Biden, whose policies he opposes and whose years are showing, and Trump, whose character and conduct Christie professedly reviles.

Bill Barr, the former attorney general who saw up close how Trump tried to subvert the peaceful transfer of power and who said in August that Trump “shouldn’t be anywhere near the Oval Office,” now supports his return to it . Barr’s position, it seems, is that Trump’s lawlessness pales beside Biden’s liberalism and that authoritarianism is a small price to pay for keeping the woke social justice warriors at bay.

Then there’s Chris Sununu, the New Hampshire governor, who was all in for Nikki Haley until she was all out of hope. He’s now on Team Trump, as he confirmed last month during an inexpressibly depressing interview on the ABC News show “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, who was dumbfounded, given Sununu’s past characterizations of Trump.

“You support him for president, even though you believe he contributed to an insurrection,” Stephanopoulos said, trying to make sure he understood Sununu correctly. “You support him for president, even though you believe he’s lying about the last election.”

“Yeah,” Sununu answered. “Me and 51 percent of America.”

That “51 percent” part gets to me as much as the rest of it: Trump is tolerable because many Americans (if not the “51 percent” that Sununu essentially invented) say he is. Must give the people whatever they want. I’m reminded of what our parents said to us when we argued for permission for something because all our friends were being allowed to do it: If those friends are jumping off a bridge, should you? Sununu’s answer, it seems, is yes. He’s jumping, along with all the other Republicans in moral free fall.

The conservative Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis recently looked at a few of the most prominent of those Republicans , venting disgust over the rationalizations of not only Barr and Sununu but also Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, who once strongly denounced Trump’s part in the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Shocker of shockers: McConnell will vote for him in November.

“Keep in mind, following Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021, McConnell said that ‘Trump’s actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty’ and that ‘there is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day,’” Lewis wrote. “Supporting a man McConnell has clearly deemed unfit for the office may make McConnell craven, cynical or absurd, but he’s not alone in his decision.” Far from it.

Christie at least isn’t supporting Trump. That’s something. And it’s a reason that he can hold his head higher than Sununu, Barr or McConnell can. But we’re talking inches, not yards, because his joint dismissals of Trump and Biden as similarly unsavory options gut his own appraisal, during that appearance in Chicago, of Trump as someone “wholly unfit to be president of the United States in every way you think.”

I’m not saying that Christie should be enthusiastic about Biden, that I don’t understand his qualms about the president or that I expect Christie and other longtime Republicans to have some sudden ideological conversion because their party’s nominee is such a grave threat. I’m asking Christie to remember that less than six months ago, he called Trump “a dictator.” And seemed to believe that.

But last week in Chicago he lumped Trump and Biden together: “If the American people are stupid enough to nominate these two guys, doesn’t mean I have to be stupid, too.” No, but the smart way to bar someone “wholly unfit” from the White House is to vote for that person’s opponent. That’s how elections work. “None of the above” isn’t a principled stand. It’s a moral cop-out — and its own dereliction of duty.

For the Love of Sentences

Much like Gary Shteyngart’s article on the world’s biggest cruise ship a few weeks back, Ron Charles’s appraisal in The Washington Post of Danielle Steel’s new novel, “Only the Brave,” was a start-to-finish jamboree of shining sentences: “By my count, ‘Only the Brave’ is Steel’s 152nd novel, but her publicist tells me, ‘It is closer to her 170th.’ Apparently, the actual number can only be guessed at, in the same way the total mass of dark matter in the universe is estimated by how it bends light.” Also: “In the months leading up to this week’s publication, Steel’s publicist reached out repeatedly to insist that I not mention that the author is a 76-year-old romance novelist. As always, we’re never ashamed of the right things.” (Thanks to Joan Pantsios of Chicago and William Harrison of Kelowna, British Columbia, among others, for drawing attention to Charles’s review.)

Speaking of book reviews — my Times colleague Dwight Garner weighed in memorably on both a memoir and a collection of essays by Joseph Epstein: “Epstein favors tasseled loafers and bow ties, and most of his sentences read as if they were written by a sentient tasseled loafer and edited by a sentient bow tie.” (Kevin Callahan, Forest Hills, N.Y., and Elinor Nauen, Manhattan)

Sticking with The Times, which was the source of most of your nominations over the past week — Margaret Lyons perfectly described the main character of the messy but mesmerizing “Baby Reindeer,” a new Netflix series about an aspiring stand-up comedian and his stalker: “Donny recognizes and articulates the dangers of wanting fame, how it warps his judgment but also could solve his problems. (One person knowing your darkest secret is unbearable, but a million people knowing it is stardom.) Agony and attention are bound together here — Look at me! No, not like that! — twin snakes choking the life out of their prey.” (Linda Trocki, La Quinta, Calif., and Stephen Ranger, Toronto)

And Maggie Haberman and Jonah E. Bromwich used a wide-angle lens to look at Trump’s current criminal trial. “Eventually, the case could threaten not only Mr. Trump’s freedom but also the central tenets of a lifelong ethos ever-present in the former president’s patter: a convenient disregard for the truth, the blunt denial of anything damaging and a stubborn insistence that his adversaries are always acting in bad faith,” they wrote. (Cynthia Croasdaile, Portland, Ore., and Veronica Stinson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, among others)

In The Atlantic, Thomas Chatterton Williams rued the “impersonal, tech-saturated” sameness of a new generation of cars: “Could a child ever dream about a Lucid or Rivian? These are generically good-looking, low-emissions vehicles that only a cyborg could lust over. They are songs sung through Auto-Tune, with clever and forgettable lyrics composed by ChatGPT.” (Marjorie Ivey, St. Louis)

In The Guardian, Ryan Busse pivoted from Kristi Noem to another Republican governor with animals in his sights, Greg Gianforte of Montana: “In 2021, Gianforte illegally shot and killed a collared Yellowstone wolf that had its leg caught in a steel-jawed trap. He wanted to stuff the wolf and display it in his office — presumably without its radio collar, which would have dampened the effect he was going for.” (Kurt Griffin, Sioux Falls, S.D.)

To return to The Washington Post — Michael Dirda’s review of Anne Curzan’s “Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words” included this rumination on writing: “Effective prose, in truth, doesn’t resemble conversation. It’s more like sculpting with clay. You start with an inchoate mass, shape it a bit, hate the result, start over, try this, try that, give up, slink away in disgust, come back, work some more and eventually end up with something that looks vaguely like a pot or an essay.” (James Martin Thompson, Washington)

Having begun with Ron Charles, I’ll also end with him. In a recent Washington Post newsletter, he marveled at the actress Judi Dench’s astonishing ability to recite most of the lines from her long-ago parts in Shakespeare plays. “Such memorization is a lost art,” he wrote, adding that when he stares at the ceiling at night, “My mind is a tangle of bits of string, and all I can come up with is something like: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Won’t you lay me down in the tall grass and let me do my stuff?’” For those of you not fluent in Fleetwood Mac, that last sentence is a lyric from the song “ Second Hand News .” (Denise Showers, Janesville, Wis.)

To nominate favorite bits of recent writing from The Times or other publications to be mentioned in “For the Love of Sentences,” please email me here and include your name and place of residence.

What I’m Doing, Planning and Reading

I spoke about my new book, “The Age of Grievance,” which came out this week, on “The Bulwark Podcast” with Tim Miller, and The Free Press just published the latest excerpt from it , about some of the particular ways in which the modern American economy sows envy and resentment. As someone whose diminished eyesight has made him a big and grateful consumer of audiobooks, I found it meaningful to do “The Age of Grievance” narration myself; here are its first five minutes . In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be making appearances in Montclair, N.J. ; Philadelphia ; and Washington, among other cities: My full schedule is on my website, where you’ll also find a range of information about the book. Also, I just added another event near my Chapel Hill, N.C., home, at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village, on May 23; more details on that here .

Two Times colleagues whom I like and respect immensely have books of their own coming out in the next few weeks. “ Chasing Hope” is Nick Kristof’s look back at his extraordinary journalism career, including his travels to places most of us have never been and will never see. “ Trippy: The Perils and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics ” is Ernesto Londoño’s mix of candid personal reflection and deep reporting, illuminating a growing trend in mental health that many of us don’t understand.

Campus protests have riveted and divided Americans and led to bitterly tense scenes such as the arrests on Tuesday night of protesters who had barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University. How to make sense of it all? Two of the best recent takes came from George Packer in The Atlantic and Lydia Polgreen in The Times . I don’t agree with every paragraph or sentence that each of them wrote, but that’s not what I’m looking for in a piece of journalism, especially one covering such an important topic. I’m looking to be made smarter and to understand the dynamics of a situation more fully, and I’m looking for analysis that seeks to lower rather than raise the temperature. Both articles fill that bill.

On a Personal Note

I was happy to include a few lines about the Netflix series “Baby Reindeer” in this week’s For the Love of Sentences section not only because the lines in question are terrific but also because they reminded me to say a few words of my own about the show.

It’s definitely not for everyone. It’s harrowingly dark, and it’s also repetitive, revisiting or lingering on developments and details that have been amply examined. Streaming services these days seem to take the approach that any story that can be told in X number of hours or installments should be given 25 to 50 percent more time than that. Bloat is a given.

But little that I’ve watched lately gripped and haunted me the way “Baby Reindeer” did. It’s the story, based on real events, of a struggling (really, failing) comedian and his stalker, and it is so raw and so true on the subject of human neediness that it’s a gut punch. Who among us hasn’t felt some version of the desperation that these characters do? Hasn’t made awful choices just for the sake of having company, of being seen, of being admired, no matter the flaws, delusions and demands of the admirer?

“Baby Reindeer” isn’t a simple perpetrator-and-victim tale. It examines how we see and don’t see what’s right in front of us, depending on what we’re intent on believing. That’s true in politics, as the past few years have vividly demonstrated. But it’s even truer when we’re looking for love. Or hope. Or just the barest smidgen of affirmation.

Frank Bruni is a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke University, the author of the book "The Age of Grievance" and a contributing Opinion writer. He writes a weekly email newsletter .   Instagram   Threads   @ FrankBruni • Facebook

Traffic Alert: In Upper Marlboro on I-495 Inner Loop after US-50/John Hanson Hwy, two lanes getting by due to police investigation.

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse and recovery in Baltimore

WTOP Staff | [email protected]

May 2, 2024, 3:45 PM

In the early morning hours of March 26, a huge container ship lost power and careened into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing most of the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River.

Six construction workers were killed in the collapse. And the destruction and extensive recovery efforts raised concerns about the implications to international shipping and commerce — the Port of Baltimore is the ninth-busiest port in the nation.

See the latest coverage.

• Latest photos from the Patapsco: From Key Bridge collapse to recovery efforts
• WATCH: Live view of Key Bridge collapse cleanup

Maryland officials release timeline, cost estimate, for rebuilding bridge

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland plans to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in just over four years at an estimated cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, a state transportation official said Thursday.

The state plans to build a new span by fall of 2028, said David Broughton, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Transportation. He said the cost estimate is preliminary, and detailed engineering specifics have not been confirmed.

Meanwhile, the broker for the bridge’s insurance policy confirmed Thursday that a $350 million payout will be made to the state of Maryland in what is expected to be the first of many payouts related to the collapse.

Read the full story from The Associated Press here .

5th Key Bridge collapse victim recovered, identified after vehicle located

Officials with the Unified Command team working on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, have recovered and identified a fifth roadwork crew member who died in the collapse in March.

On Wednesday night, Unified Command announced 49-year-old Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, of Glen Burnie, was recovered when one of the missing worker trucks was found by salvage teams at the bridge.

Luna Gonzalez, a native of El Salvador, is one of the six roadwork crew members who died in the collapse of the bridge during the early hours of March 26.

Ship that brought down bridge to be removed from collapse site in the coming weeks

At the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, crews plan to refloat and remove the grounded Dali container ship within roughly the next 10 days, allowing more maritime traffic to resume through Baltimore’s port.

The ship, which lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns, has been stationary amid the wreckage since the  March 26 collapse . Officials expect to have it removed by May 10, according to a news release Tuesday from the Port of Baltimore.

Read more . 

First container ship arrives at Port of Baltimore since bridge collapse

The first container ship arrived at the Port of Baltimore since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed more than a month ago.

The MSC Cargo Passion III made it through the 35-foot temporary channel on Sunday carrying nearly 1,000 containers.

Read more here.

Baltimore port workers receive state aid, slowly get back to work

Things are slowly getting back to normal at the Port of Baltimore where thousands of workers are waiting for the shipping channel to fully reopen following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge a month ago.

Right now, the  channel is only partially open .

“We’re doing a little bit better,” said Scott Cowan, president of the longshoremen’s union in Baltimore.

Cowan represents thousands who work at the port.

“It’s not what we’re looking for yet, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Cowan said, noting that it will be another month or so before the shipping channel is fully back to normal.

Even when that does happen, Cowan said it won’t be like flipping on a light switch.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a slow roll with cargo coming in because that stuff is booked weeks in advance,” said Cowan.

Longshoremen, truckers and small business owners have seen their jobs impacted by the collapse, prompting local and state officials to prioritize reopening the port and restoring its traffic to normal capacity in hopes of easing the economic ripple effects of the collapse.

Read more from WTOP’s Nick Iannelli here.

First cargo ship passes through newly opened channel in Baltimore since bridge was struck, collapsed

The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the  Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed  four weeks ago.

The ship is one of five stranded vessels expected to pass through the new, temporary channel.

Baltimore’s port administrator discusses response to Key Bridge collapse, impact — and what’s next

On Feb. 5, Jonathan Daniels assumed the role of executive director at the Maryland Port Administration.

Only seven weeks later, on March 26, Daniels found himself dealing with the tragic  Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse , which claimed the lives of six construction workers and was “so catastrophic” that he said no one, including himself, could truly have been prepared.

Daniels sat down with WTOP to discuss what happened that day, what the response has been, and what kind of timeline and actions the Baltimore area — and entire nation — can expect to see in terms of rebounding from the devastating collapse.

Third temporary channel opens for vessels to Baltimore port after bridge collapse

 A third temporary channel for boats to enter and depart the Port of Baltimore has opened, expanding further shipping access as collapsed sections of  the Francis Scott Key Bridge are salvaged  before the span can ultimately be rebuilt.

The alternate channel, located to the northeast of the fallen bridge, is open to “commercially essential vessels,” port officials announced late Friday.

Read more about the new channel.

How have drivers adjusted to the collapse of the Key Bridge? A look at the data

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge used to carry more than 30,000 vehicles across the Patapsco River every day. Maryland’s Department of Transportation provided WTOP with an early look at how the drivers have adjusted.

The tunnels on Interstates 95 and 895 in Baltimore were already busier than the Key Bridge, and as you can expect, there’s even more traffic and longer delays to get through them now.

Since the bridge’s collapse, traffic along I-95’s Fort McHenry tunnel is up by about 11% since before the crash, according to a Maryland State Highway spokesman. Before the crash, the Fort McHenry tunnel saw more than 100,000 vehicles pass through it every day.

Read more from WTOP’s John Domen here.

4th body recovered from Baltimore bridge collapse wreckage

The body of a fourth construction worker killed during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge was recovered Monday, the Key Bridge Unified Command announced in a news release .

The victim has been positively identified, but their identity is not being disclosed at this time at the request of the family.

Six construction workers were killed after the Dali container ship slammed into the bridge in the early morning hours of March 26. The crew was repairing potholes on the bridge and was on break at the time of the collapse.

Salvage teams located what they believed to be one of the missing construction vehicles and notified Maryland State Police. State troopers, the FBI and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police responded and found the victim trapped inside the vehicle, according to Unified Command.

“As we mourn the lives lost and continue the recovery operation, we recognize each missing individual is someone’s beloved friend or family member,” Col. Roland Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, said in a news release. “Along with all of our allied law enforcement partners, we pledge to exhaust the physical and technical aspects of their training while deploying every available resource possible.”

FBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse

The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge that is focused on the circumstances leading up to it and whether all federal laws were followed, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The person was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

The FBI was present aboard the cargo ship Dali conducting court authorized law enforcement activity, the agency said in a statement Monday.

Police divers at Baltimore bridge collapse struggle with ‘zero visibility’ underwater

The mission is daunting at the site of the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, as crews have to remove 50,000 tons of debris.

Nonetheless, police divers are there, continuing an investigation into the collapse.

Visibility under the water is extremely poor, however.

“Best case scenario is you might be able to see eight inches in front of your face,” said Maryland State Police Cpl. Lyle German, who’s with the department’s underwater recovery team. “Worst case scenario, it’s like wearing one of those sleep masks, and you have zero visibility.”

‘It’s not a hope — it’s a plan’: Exclusive interview with Army Corps of Engineers official on front line of Baltimore Key Bridge recovery

Baltimore District Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Col. Estee Pinchasin is on the front line of the operation to clear the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and reopen more shipping channels so larger ships can make their way to the Port of Baltimore. She joined WTOP’s Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer from Dundalk, Maryland.

Listen to the full interview and read the transcript .

New sonar images show striking detail of Key Bridge wreckage site

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revealed sonar images of the wreckage site, including the deepest part of the Port of Baltimore shipping channel.

See more photos of the collapse .

Baltimore community honors workers killed in the Key Bridge collapse

Local residents in Curtis Bay, Maryland, held a vigil on Saturday to honor the six people killed at the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

A mural was built near Fort Armistead Road, the closest residents could get to the collapse site, local TV outlet WJZ reported. It features the names of the six construction workers, hard hats, work boots and the flags of their native countries. Members of the community honored the victims through prayer and song.

See more from the vigil below.

Salvage crews begin removing containers from ship that collapsed Key Bridge

Salvage crews on Sunday began removing containers from the deck of the cargo ship that crashed into and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, an important step toward the full reopening of one of the nation’s main shipping lanes.

The removal of the containers from the deck of the Dali would continue this week as weather permits, according to a statement from the Key Bridge Response Unified Command. Crews were progressing toward removing sections of the bridge that lie across the ship’s bow to eventually allow it to move, the statement said.

Read more .

3rd construction worker’s body found, ID’d

The body of another construction worker was pulled from the water Friday following the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse.

In a release from the recovery effort , officials said they found the remains of 38-year-old Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval. His body was found around 10:30 a.m.

“Unified Command salvage dive teams located what they believed to be the missing construction worker and notified the Maryland Department of State Police. Maryland State Police Underwater Recovery Team deployed in coordination with dive teams from allied law enforcement partners and recovered Suazo-Sandoval,” authorities said.

“The collapse of the Key Bridge is undoubtedly one of the most challenging tragedies we have faced as a law enforcement agency. Along with our local, state and federal public safety partners, we will not give up,” Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, said.

“There are families still waiting to hear if we have found their loved one. I can promise you, we are fully committed to finding closure for each of these families.”

Three more bodies have yet to be recovered.

Baltimore Orioles, Ravens donate $10M to bridge collapse recovery effort

The Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens have together donated $10 million to the Baltimore Community Foundation’s Key Bridge Emergency Fund.

The fund was established to provide ongoing support to the recovery and resilience efforts for families, port workers, first responders, small businesses and communities affected by the collapse of the Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, the Baltimore Community Foundation said in a news release.

“The resiliency of our city has once again been sorely tested,” Orioles owner David Rubenstein said in the release. “Under the leadership of Governor Wes Moore, and in collaboration with the Ravens, the Orioles offer this contribution to support those who keep our city, our state, and our country in business.”

For information on how to donate to the fund, visit the Baltimore Community Foundation’s website .

Biden tours collapsed Baltimore bridge as clearing proceeds and declares ‘your nation has your back’

President Joe Biden got a firsthand look Friday at efforts to clear away the “mangled mess” of remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, as cranes, ships and diving crews work to reopen one of the nation’s main shipping lanes.

Aboard Marine One, circling the warped metal remains and the mass of construction and salvage equipment trying to clear the wreckage of last week’s collapse, Biden got his first up close view of the devastation. On the ground, he received a briefing from local officials, the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers on the situation in the water and its impacts on the region.

Biden also greeted police officers who helped block traffic to the bridge in the moments before it was hit by the ship, which helped avert an even larger loss of life.

“I’m here to say your nation has your back and I mean it,” Biden said from the shoreline overlooking the collapsed bridge. “Your nation has your back.”

Tentative plan to restore navigation through Port of Baltimore

Engineers working to clear the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore announced they expect to be able to restore navigation in and out of the Port of Baltimore by the end of this month.

The bridge collapsed within seconds on March 26 after being struck by the cargo ship Dali, which lost power shortly after leaving Baltimore, bound for Sri Lanka. The ship issued a mayday alert with just enough time for police to stop traffic, but not enough to save a roadwork crew filling potholes on the bridge. Authorities believe six workers plunged to their deaths in the Patapsco River; two bodies have been recovered so far. Two others survived.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a “tentative timeline” Thursday, saying in a news release that it expects to open a limited access channel to the port within the next four weeks measuring some 280 feet wide by 35 feet deep (85 meters by 11 meters). The channel would support one-way traffic in and out of the port for barge container service and some vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment to and from the port.

See more details .

Baltimore bridge cleanup continues

Crews continued clearing the mangled wreckage of the collapsed  Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Crews opened a second temporary channel through the collapse site Tuesday, but it’s too shallow for most commercial vessels. The two alternate channels are meant primarily to aid in the cleanup effort. Work continues to open a third channel that will allow larger vessels to pass through the bottleneck and restore more commercial activity, officials said.

Meanwhile, bad weather has hindered salvage operations in recent days. The Patapsco River is also very murky, severely limiting the visibility of divers.

The sheer volume of debris dwarfed even the cranes and barges involved in the cleanup. And that’s only the view from above; officials said underwater conditions are significantly more challenging.

Divers are still trying to get a sense of the tangled, muddy web. Sonar is being used to map the wreckage on the river bottom in 50 feet (15 meters) of water. A  large floating crane  nicknamed “Chessy” is helping with the salvage.

Crews will soon begin lifting undamaged containers off the ship before removing the chunks of steel and concrete embedded in its bow, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference.

Second channel opened allowing some vessels to bypass wreckage at the Baltimore bridge collapse site

Crews opened a second temporary channel on Tuesday allowing a limited amount of marine traffic to bypass the mangled wreckage of Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, which had blocked the vital port’s main shipping channel since its destruction one week ago.

Work is ongoing to open a third channel that will allow larger vessels to pass through the bottleneck and restore more commercial activity, officials announced at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. The channels are open primarily to vessels involved in the cleanup effort, along with some barges and tugs that have been stuck in the Port of Baltimore.

A tugboat pushing a fuel barge was the first vessel to use an alternate channel late Monday. It was supplying jet fuel to Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base.

Gov. Wes Moore said rough weather over the past two days has made the challenging salvage effort even more daunting. Conditions have been unsafe for divers trying to recover the bodies of the four construction workers believed trapped underwater in the wreckage.

Gov. Wes Moore discusses the recovery effort on WTOP

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined WTOP live from Dundalk, Maryland, to discuss the recovery efforts, saying the state was still in mourning a week after the collapse and revealing the key moments the night of the container ship crash that saved “countless lives.”

Listen to the interview and read the full transcript. 

Channel opens for vessels clearing wreckage at Baltimore bridge collapse site

The U.S. Coast Guard has opened a temporary, alternate channel for vessels involved in clearing debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, part of a phased approach to opening the main shipping channel leading to the vital port, officials said Monday.

Crews are undertaking the complicated work of removing  steel and concrete  at the site of the bridge’s deadly collapse after a container ship lost power and crashed into a supporting column. On Sunday, dive teams surveyed parts of the bridge and checked the ship, and workers in lifts used torches to cut above-water parts of the twisted steel superstructure.

Officials said the temporary channel is open primarily to vessels that are helping with the cleanup effort. Some barges and tugs that have been stuck in the Port of Baltimore since the collapse are also scheduled to pass through the channel.

Small business recovery center opens

Federal loans became available through the Small Business Administration for small businesses in the mid-Atlantic affected by the closure of the port of Baltimore, due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge .

The SBA opened a Business Recovery Center in Dundalk on Monday.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore had requested a disaster declaration by the SBA, which has been granted.

One of the last drivers to cross Baltimore’s Key Bridge, this man is ‘thankful’ to be alive

As the  loss of six construction workers emphasized the tragedy of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, one man who traveled the bridge just minutes before a cargo ship crash brought it down says he is “thankful that he’s still here.”

“If I had been another … minute, I may not be here talking to you,” Larry Desantis told WTOP.

Desantis was headed to one of his bakery jobs to the next on the night of the collapse, and says he was one of the last cars to cross the bridge before it fell.

Read more. 

Construction workers honor Key Bridge collapse victims

While holding flowers and wearing construction hats and yellow or orange vests, Maryland construction workers on Friday honored their peers who died when  Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapsed this week .

After praying for healing and safety, the community workers, some of whom are members of the immigrant rights group CASA, recalled some of the dangers they have experienced in their jobs.

They described the risks they face every day simply by going to work, and considered that it could have been them repairing potholes on the bridge when the Dali cargo ship struck it.

Building a new Key Bridge could take years and cost at least $400 million, experts say

Rebuilding Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge could take anywhere from 18 months to several years, experts say, while the cost could be at least $400 million — or more than twice that.

It all depends on factors that are still mostly unknown. They range from the design of the new bridge to how swiftly government officials can navigate the bureaucracy of approving permits and awarding contracts.

Realistically, the project could take five to seven years, according to Ben Schafer

, an engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University.

“The lead time on air conditioning equipment right now for a home renovation is like 16 months, right?” Schafer said. He continued: “So it’s like you’re telling me they’re going to build a whole bridge in two years? I want it to be true, but I think empirically it doesn’t feel right to me.”

Others are more optimistic about the potential timeline: Sameh Badie, an engineering professor at George Washington University, said the project could take as little as 18 months to two years.

Read more from the Associated Press.

Biden OKs $60M in aid after Baltimore bridge collapse as governor warns of ‘very long road ahead’

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore warned of a “very long road ahead” to recover from the loss of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge as the Biden administration approved $60 million in immediate federal aid after the deadly collapse.

President Joe Biden has pledged the federal government would pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge.

The state is “deeply grateful” for the federal funds and support, Moore said. “This work is not going to take hours. This work is not going to take days. This work is not going to take weeks,” Moore said. “We have a very long road ahead of us.”

Read the story from The Associated Press.

Central American and Mexican families mourn the workers lost in the Baltimore bridge collapse

The construction workers who went missing in the Baltimore bridge collapse came to the Maryland area from Mexico or Central America, including an enterprising Honduran father and husband who started a delivery business before the pandemic forced him to find other work, according to his family.

Police managed to close bridge traffic seconds before a cargo ship slammed into one of the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s supports early Tuesday, causing the span to fall into the frigid Patapsco River. There wasn’t time for a maintenance crew filling potholes on the span to get to safety.

At least eight people fell into the water and two were rescued. Two bodies were recovered Wednesday and four remained missing and were presumed dead.

The governments of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras confirmed that their citizens were among the missing.

Read the full story from The Associated Press .

Remains of 2 people recovered after Baltimore Key Bridge collapse

By Jessica Kronzer, Thomas Robertson and Abigail Constantino

Searchers recovered the remains of two people from the Patapsco River after a massive container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday morning.

The discovery came amid a daylong search for at least six people — all part of a construction crew that was repairing potholes on the Maryland bridge — who plunged into the murky waters after the ship collided with one of the structure’s pillars, sending the bridge tumbling down in a matter of seconds.

Col. Roland Butler, with Maryland State Police, said that a team of divers made the “tragic finding” before 10 a.m.: They found a red pickup truck submerged in about 25 feet of water with two bodies trapped inside.

The victims have been identified as Alejandro Fernandez Fuentes, 35, of Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Dundalk. Fuentes was originally from Mexico, while Cabrera was from Guatemala.

Read the full story .

Drivers assess wreckage while search for bodies of 6 workers continues

One day after a powerless cargo ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing to crumble, underwater crews are assessing the debris left behind in the Patapsco River while other divers continue to search for the bodies of six construction workers who were on the bridge when it collapsed.

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search and recovery operation for the workers at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, saying that due to the amount of time that had elapsed since the initial collapse and the cold water temperatures, they did not expect to find any of the workers alive. Unchanged: The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search and recovery operation for the workers at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, saying that due to the amount of time that had elapsed since the initial collapse and the cold water temperatures, they did not expect to find any of the workers alive.

Even though the operation has shifted away from search and rescue, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday morning there’s still a sense of urgency in the recovery mission.

“The top priority for me right now is still the recovery, we’ve got to bring these families closure,” Moore said Wednesday.

6 construction workers presumed dead after Baltimore Key Bridge collapse, Coast Guard says

By Ciara Wells and Jessica Kronzer

Six construction workers who were on Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge at the time it was rammed by a cargo ship, causing the bridge to collapse, are presumed dead after a search and rescue operation that lasted nearly 18 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday night.

Reports came in around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday that a large vessel crashed into a column in the central part of the bridge that carries north and southbound lanes of Interstate 695.

The ship caught on fire, with dark smoke billowing out of the vessel, before it crashed into the support structure.

Baltimore bridge collapse and port closure send companies scrambling to reroute cargo

The stunning collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is diverting shipping and trucking around one of the busiest ports on America’s East Coast, creating delays and raising costs in the latest disruption to global supply chains.

After the container ship Dali hit the bridge and brought it down, ship traffic entering and leaving the Port of Baltimore was suspended indefinitely. That will require rerouting vessels or their cargo to other ports, potentially causing congestion and delays for importers.

Read the story from The Associated Press .

‘I just heard this great big noise’: Md. neighbors recall moment Baltimore’s Key Bridge fell

Dozens of people kept ignoring the “no parking” signs that line Dundalk Avenue to get out of their cars and look beyond the Port of Baltimore toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge — or at least where the Key Bridge is supposed to be.

From there you can see some of it, but the great arching bridge that’s part of the skyline in Baltimore is missing, and even those who heard the crash as it happened overnight had to show up to stare, seeing what they never believed they had heard.

“I was up and I just heard this great big noise and rumbling sound, and I thought it was something going on down my road, so I got up out of my chair and walked outside and there was nothing,” said Frank Wolfe, who lives in Dundalk.

Only when he woke up later on in the morning did he put two and two together.

Listen to what people say they heard in the wee hours of the morning, when a massive container ship hit the bridge and what they saw unfold afterward.

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after ship struck it, sending vehicles into water Content

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, has collapsed after a large container boat collided with it early Tuesday morning.

Reports came in around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday that a large vessel crashed into a column in the central part of the bridge carrying north and southbound lanes of Interstate 695, catching on fire before causing multiple vehicles to fall into the Patapsco River below.

Rescuers were searching for at least seven people in the water.

“This is a dire emergency,” said Kevin Cartwright, with the Baltimore City Fire Department. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”

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