Sewickley Bridge temporarily closed after loose barge hits it while floating down Ohio River

YEAH. CHANDI ANOTHER ROUND OF PRETTY HEAVY FLOODING LEADING TO JUST MORE DISRUPTIONS AROUND THE REGION. HOMES AND COMMUNITIES STILL CLEANING UP. AND NOW ANOTHER ISSUE. 26 BARGES BROKE LOOSE LAST NIGHT ON THE UPPER OHIO RIVER. ALL BUT ONE SO FAR HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. NOW, JUST BEFORE 1130 LAST NIGHT, 26 BARGES BROKE LOOSE. 11 WERE SECURED BY A TUGBOAT AT BRUNO ISLAND. NINE OF THOSE BARGES CAME TO A REST AT EMSWORTH LOCKS AND DAM, WITH ONE BEING REMOVED EARLY THIS MORNING FOR OF THOSE BARGES PASSING THROUGH EMS WORK LOCK AND DAM AND OVER TO DASHIELDS LOCKS AND DAM IN MOON TOWNSHIP. THOSE WERE ALSO RETRIEVED AND SECURED BY A TUGBOAT. ONE OF THOSE BARGES ACTUALLY STRUCK THE SEWICKLEY BRIDGE ON THE MOON TOWNSHIP SIDE. THAT BRIDGE IS NOW CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. AN INSPECTION TEAM WAS CALLED OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE DAMAGE. PRELIMINARY INSPECTION DOES ALSO SHOW THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER EMSWORTH LOCK AND DAM NOR DASHIELDS, BUT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SAYS FURTHER INSPECTION IS UNDERWAY. ONE OF THE BARGES HAS SINCE SUNK DUE TO THE RIVER CONDITIONS. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT BARGE WAS EMPTY. OFFICIALS ARE STILL TRYING TO SECURE THE LAST BARGE THAT BROKE LOOSE. OBVIOUSLY, THE RECOVERY IS GOING TO BE IT’S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BUT WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS THAT WHATEVER TIME IT TAKES, IT’S GOING TO BE DONE SAFE SO THAT THE PEOPLE HERE ARE EMPLOYEES AND THE BARGE CRUISES CAN BE SAFE. CAMPBELL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY OWNS THESE BARGES. IN A STATEMENT TO PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR, THEY SAY IN PART, QUOTE, WE ARE ACTIVELY COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMS AGENCIES TO ACCESS EXCUSE ME, ASSESS THE SITUATION AND TAKE THE NECESSARY MEASURES TO ADDRESS IT PROPERLY. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED UNDER HIGH WATER CONDITIONS ON THE RIVERS, RESULTING IN STRONG CURRENTS DUE TO FLOODING. NOW, THANKFULLY, NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT TWO MARINAS DID SUFFER SOME PRETTY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. BOTH PEGGY’S HARBOR MARINA AND BRANCHPORT BOAT CLUB WERE IMPACTED. COMING UP AT 11, WE HEAR FROM A BOATER ON HOW THIS NOW AFFECTS HIM.

A loose barge hit the Sewickley Bridge Saturday afternoon, forcing its closure as officials from multiple agencies responded to over two dozen loose barges floating down the Ohio River. The bridge has since reopened. PennDOT told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 around 2:20 p.m. that the bridge had been hit by a barge and was closed. Sky 4 flew over and saw crews inspecting the bridge.Prior to the barge hitting the Sewickley Bridge, Moon Township Police Department said on social media that the bridge would be closing out of caution. The department confirmed around 2 p.m. that an "unmanned barge (was) passing through."Police said in an update that the bridge had reopened.The West End and McKees Rocks bridges were closed Friday night due to the runaway barges. There were no reports that either bridge was hit; both reopened shortly after midnight.Officials with Campbell Transportation, which owns the barges, said the company is investigating how the barges broke free.On Saturday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District said tugboats have secured 11 of the 26 reported barges at Brunot Island. Nine of the barges stopped at Emsworth Lock and Dam. Four barges continued past the dam, going over the Dashields Locks and Dams in Moon before being retrieved by tugboat as well.A representative for the Army Corps of Engineers told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that one of the barges has sunk.

PennDOT told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 around 2:20 p.m. that the bridge had been hit by a barge and was closed. Sky 4 flew over and saw crews inspecting the bridge.

Prior to the barge hitting the Sewickley Bridge, Moon Township Police Department said on social media that the bridge would be closing out of caution. The department confirmed around 2 p.m. that an "unmanned barge (was) passing through."

Police said in an update that the bridge had reopened.

The West End and McKees Rocks bridges were closed Friday night due to the runaway barges. There were no reports that either bridge was hit; both reopened shortly after midnight.

Officials with Campbell Transportation, which owns the barges, said the company is investigating how the barges broke free.

On Saturday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District said tugboats have secured 11 of the 26 reported barges at Brunot Island. Nine of the barges stopped at Emsworth Lock and Dam. Four barges continued past the dam, going over the Dashields Locks and Dams in Moon before being retrieved by tugboat as well.

A representative for the Army Corps of Engineers told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that one of the barges has sunk.

Sewickley Bridge temporarily closed after loose barge hits it while floating down Ohio River

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