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Pittsburgh authorities closed two bridges late Friday after more than 20 barges broke loose and drifted uncontrollably down the Ohio River, with some plunging into local dams.
Around 11:30 p.m., authorities responded to 26 barges moving downstream. Officials said three of the barges were empty, 23 were carrying coal and other cargo, and one was carrying fertilizer but no hazardous materials.
Carol Vernon, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, told USA TODAY that one barge loaded with coal had still not been located as of Saturday afternoon. Authorities believe the missing barge has sunk, but officials said they cannot begin a search until river conditions change. The Ohio River near Pittsburgh recently flooded.
“The most important thing is not necessarily how quickly we can recover these barges, but how safely we can recover them,” she said.
There are no reports of a barge hitting the bridge and there is no known contamination at this time, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Eyobe Mills told USA TODAY.
Sailors have been advised to stay away from the area until all barges have been recovered. Vernon said navigational channels will not reopen until water levels recede.
No one was injured, but Peggy’s Harbor on the north bank of the Ohio River was severely damaged.
Officials closed the railroad bridge to Blue Knot Island, about three miles west of downtown Pittsburgh. Further west, the McKees Rocks Bridge was temporarily closed as a precaution. Both reopened Saturday morning. Initially, city officials said the West End Bridge was closed, but clarified that only the Blue Knot Island Bridge and McKees Rocks Bridge were closed.
“They may or may not come into contact with the substructure, but we don’t want to take any risks,” the McKee’s Rocks Police Department said in a social media post.
On Saturday afternoon, the Army Corps of Engineers said in a social media post that it was inspecting the facility for damage and ensuring the safety of its employees and barge crew.
Bridge integrity:The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a Baltimore icon. Compare it to other U.S. bridges.
Barge accident occurred weeks after Baltimore bridge collapse
The bridge closure comes just over two weeks after a large cargo ship lost power and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore, causing it to collapse. The bridge’s collapse raised concerns about the safety of other bridges in the United States. Pittsburgh is a historically industrial Pennsylvania city known for its iconic bridges spanning the city and several rivers surrounding it.
City officials said 11 barges had so far been located and secured along the banks of Bruno Island and were being held by tugboats. 14 people continued downstream.
Nine people crossed Emsworth Dam, about four miles downstream from Bruno Island. Seven barges were resting at the dam as of Saturday afternoon, according to the Army Corps. An empty barge sank and another barge broke away due to river conditions.
Four of them crossed Dashiell’s Dam, about 11 miles from Emsworth Dam. They were recovered and secured by tugboats, the Army Corps said.
Vernon of the Army Corps said the missing barge is believed to be between two dams.
Pittsburgh officials said the barge is owned or operated by Campbell Transportation Company, which is located just downstream along the Ohio River from the McKees Rocks Bridge. A call to the company Saturday did not return a message.
Late Friday night, the National Weather Service extended a flood warning for the Ohio River near Pittsburgh. Around midnight, the river level reached 25 feet above flood stage.
River navigation was suspended due to high water levels. It’s still unclear what caused the barge to come loose, but the Army Corps believes high water levels were a factor. The Coast Guard said it continues to prioritize missing vessels.
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