(ST. PAUL, Minn.) — A Mississippi River swing bridge that was damaged by a barge strike in October has been reopened for traffic, the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported.
At 0300 on Oct. 26, a barge guided by the the southbound towboat Cooperative Venture hit the center support of the Pig's Eye Railroad Bridge, causing the pier to split from the truss. No one was injured and nothing spilled from the barge, which was carrying dry goods.
U.S. Coast Guard investigators estimated at the time that it could be a year before the bridge was operable. Officials noted the bridge’s repair is temporary, and barge traffic under the bridge will remain limited to one lane, rather than two, during the shipping season.
The crash remains under investigation by the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board.
Click here to read the story.
