Tugboat, barges strike Ohio River bridge

The following is the text of a news report from WPSD 6:

(MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky.) — The Interstate 24 Ohio River bridge connecting Paducah, Ky., and Metropolis, Ill., will remain open after a tugboat pushing 15 barges hit a pier.

Around midnight Thursday, the Harbor Tug, Robert Green struck the second pier from the Kentucky side of the river.

The pilot says two barges then broke free and lodged against the pier.

Corn, coal and soybeans sat inside six of the barges, while the others remained empty.

According to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Keith Todd, inspectors with the Illinois Department of Transportation found no structural damage on the bridge.

Due to lane restrictions already on the bridge, it did not have to close to allow those inspectors to access the bridge's structure.

Update

The Ohio River Bridge is all clear after IDOT inspectors have found no structural damage to the bridge.

The Coast Guard will be interviewing the crew for an incident report.

By Professional Mariner Staff