A large barge collided with a bridge over the Arkansas River in Oklahoma, halting traffic on a major highway.
Authorities temporarily closed the bridge on Saturday after the collision.
“Engineers from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation conducted an inspection and found that the bridge pillars had sustained some damage, but nothing severe or major. Around two hours later, they determined that it was safe to reopen the bridge. Fortunately, no one was injured; only the barge sustained heavy damage to the front,” Rawsalerts wrote.
“Photos show the damage to the bridge pillars and the front of the barge after their collision earlier this evening. The bridge was temporarily shut down but has since been reopened,” an update read.
🚨#UPDATE: Photos show the damage to the bridge pillars and the front of the barge after their collision earlier this evening. The bridge was temporarily shut down but has since been reopened. pic.twitter.com/43uK7Myxrt
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 30, 2024
Fox News reports:
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the barge rammed into the bridge near the Kerr Lock & Dam on Saturday afternoon.
Troopers closed South U.S. Highway 59 about 1:25 p.m. after receiving word of the incident and diverted traffic from the area, state patrol spokesperson Sarah Stewart said.
There were no reports of injuries on the highway or the barge, Stewart said.
It was not immediately known what caused the barge to hit the bridge.
“US-59 is now OPEN at the Arkansas River, south of Sallisaw near the Sequoyah/LeFlore County line after a barge hit the bridge. Engineers inspected the structure and found it safe to reopen,” the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said.
SEQUOYAH/LEFLORE COs: US-59 is now OPEN at the Arkansas River, south of Sallisaw near the Sequoyah/LeFlore County line after a barge hit the bridge. Engineers inspected the structure and found it safe to reopen. https://t.co/v4ayzF7laY
— Oklahoma Department of Transportation (@OKDOT) March 30, 2024
Oklahoma highway reopens following shutdown after a barge hit a bridge https://t.co/tKRPSyhF3M
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 1, 2024
From the Associated Press:
The highway reopened to traffic around 4 p.m.
“Engineers inspected the structure and found it safe to reopen,” the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said in an email.
A spokesperson for the highway patrol did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on whether officials have determined what caused the barge to hit the bridge.
The news came as engineers began working Saturday to lift a section of twisted steel from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland after it crumpled into the Patapsco River after a massive cargo ship crashed into one of its main supports.