Bridges reopen after 26 barges broke loose and floated down Ohio River, damaging a marina
Last edited Sat Apr 13, 2024, 03:33 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: CNN
Updated 1:39 PM EDT, Sat April 13, 2024
CNN A pair of Pittsburgh-area bridges reopened Saturday morning after 26 barges broke loose the previous night and floated uncontrolled down the Ohio River, damaging a marina, authorities said. The bridges, about 2.5 miles apart, were closed after the barges most of which were loaded with dry cargo broke free after record-breaking rainfall Friday night, according to authorities.
The McKees Rocks Bridge reopened Saturday after it shut down out of an abundance of caution, McKees Rocks police said shortly after midnight, authorities said. The bridge was closed but no damage was found after an inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation bridge unit, said PennDOT spokesperson Steve Cowan.
The West End Bridge also was closed in both directions and rail traffic was shut down on the rail bridge to Brunot Island, according to Pittsburgh city officials. Col. Nicholas Melin, commander US Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District said in a statement Saturday that all bridges are currently open for vehicular traffic.
We had no reports of the West End Bridge being hit, Cowan said Saturday. Governmental authorities have informed us that all bridges are currently open for vehicular traffic, Campbell Transportation Company, owner and operator of the barges, said in a statement.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/13/us/pittsburgh-barges-bridges-ohio-river/index.html
Full headline: 26 barges break loose and float down Ohio River, causing damage and prompting bridge closures in Pittsburgh, officials say
They have had flooding over there. Below static image from KDKA - https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/more-than-20-barges-break-loose-on-ohio-river-recovery-efforts-underway/
Apparently those barges that were loaded were carrying coal.
Article updated.
Original article/headline -
Updated 3:18 AM EDT, Sat April 13, 2024
CNN A marina in Pittsburgh sustained extensive damage after 26 barges, most of which were loaded with dry cargo, broke loose late Friday night and floated uncontrolled down the Ohio River, according to authorities.
Two Pittsburgh-area bridges about 2.5 miles apart were closed after the barges broke free. The McKees Rocks Bridge was shut down out of an abundance of caution, McKees Rocks police said shortly after midnight. They may or may not come into contact with sub-structure but we are not willing to take the risk, police said of the barges.
The West End Bridge was also closed in both directions and rail traffic was shut down on the rail bridge to Brunot Island, according to Pittsburgh city officials. No hazardous materials were on board the barges, according to the city. Of the 26 loose barges, 23 were loaded and carrying dry cargo, including coal, according to the news release.
Eleven of the barges were located and pinned against the river bank by Brunot Island, according to a news release from the City of Pittsburgh. They were being held by a tugboat. Meanwhile, 14 continued down the river and six have gone over the Emsworth Dam, the city said.
AnrothElf
(584 posts)2naSalit
(86,743 posts)Deminpenn
(15,289 posts)If not for them, there'd be floods all the time. I think most of the dams are low head dams, not like the ones you'd see on the Colorado or other rivers out west.
2naSalit
(86,743 posts)I know dams in the east are a little different, we have a few out here like them but not many.
Just can't imagine what a barge over a dam of any sort would look like.
Deminpenn
(15,289 posts)This video is from 2018, but shows the area
2naSalit
(86,743 posts)What a mess.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,347 posts)so that it fits through the gaps in the dam, rather than blocking them.
FakeNoose
(32,706 posts)However the water is so high right now that it's actually spilling over the dams in a few places. Not such a big deal when that happens because it's usually only a few hours of overspill. However some of these barges went over the Emsworth dam because of the high water. That's kind of a big deal, and it's a threat to other bridges farther down the Ohio.
I can't remember ever having 26 barges loose simultaneously.
These barges aren't pushing weight like that container ship in Baltimore. Compared to that big-ass container ship, these barges are like floating log rafts. The danger is that nobody is steering them.
Odd that all came loose at the same time.
OldBaldy1701E
(5,144 posts)Still waiting if it should be labeled as 'suspicious', which we don't know yet. There is such a thing as coincidence. Plus, this falls into what I call 'The Ring Syndrome'... which refers to how all these 'ghost' channels suddenly had videos of ghosts but they ALL looked like the girl from the movie. It was laughable, and yet it was working. Since out of control water craft and bridges are in the news...
et tu
(888 posts)wonder what the coal impact might be to aquatic life?
OAITW r.2.0
(24,556 posts)Not sure how that impacts water quality, but it probably isn't an enhancement.
twodogsbarking
(9,784 posts)Deminpenn
(15,289 posts)here. The coal barges and coal trains are what move the coal mined in this region to its ultimate destinations.
We've had rain for most of the last two weeks with more forecast for Sunday and the latter part of next week. The rivers are cresting just above flood stage and flood prone areas have been hit pretty hard. Lots of roads closed in those places. There have been a few mudslides, too. It's not tropical storm Agnes level though we are on pace to match or exceed our wettest April since official record keeping began.
BumRushDaShow
(129,304 posts)where last month we had one day with not only a record rainfall for the date but record rainfall for ANY date in March. This month I am already over 4.5" of rain. I'm not complaining yet because the groundwater needs to be kept charged... as long as it happens over an extended period and not in one big dump.
EYESORE 9001
(25,962 posts)Im assuming they were tied up at a pier. The lines used to secure barges are monstrous - twisted and braided nylon so thick that some adults cant reach all the around it. Its not like flood waters rise unannounced. Someone must have been tasked with keeping an eye on the lines, making sure they werent too taut. Its just speculation.
OAITW r.2.0
(24,556 posts)Stargazer99
(2,594 posts)It costs too much to make sure some thing like that doesn't happen-profit you know-the wonderful capitalist system at its finest.
riversedge
(70,270 posts)I was just going to post this-you are quicker than I.
River barges break loose in Pittsburgh, causing damage and closing bridges before some go over a dam
https://apnews.com/article/barges-break-loose-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-e17398b93554ec46351cd87283b2e9fb
Updated 7:12 AM CDT, April 13, 2024
PITTSBURGH (AP) A large group of river barges broke loose and floated down the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, damaging a marina and causing bridge closures before the boats were pinned to the riverbank or went over a dam downstream, officials said.
Pittsburgh police, fire and emergency medical services responded around 11:25 p.m. Friday to reports of the barges floating uncontrolled down the river, Pittsburgh Public Safety said in a statement. The area had been hit by flooding after heavy rains Thursday.
There were no reports of any injuries after the 26 barges broke free, including 23 loaded with dried cargo including coal. There were no hazardous materials on board the vessels, the city said.
..................
The Coast Guard, Pennsylvania State Police and other agencies were alerted.
🚨#BREAKING: Law enforcement are on high alert as over two dozen barges break loose heading down the Ohio River and shutting down multiple bridges
📌#Pittsburgh | #PA
Currently, numerous law enforcement agencies, along with other authorities, are on high alert as approximately twenty-six barges have broken loose and are headed down the Ohio River. Out of an abundance of caution, law enforcement has shut down multiple bridges, including the McKees Rocks Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and halted all traffic due to this incident. So far, twenty-three barges were loaded and three were empty, with six barges having jammed up against the Emsworth Dam Reports of Extensive Damage has been reported at Peggys Marina. Authorities are asking everyone in the area to please avoid this area until further notice.
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
BumRushDaShow
(129,304 posts)given the unique terrain there too!
Plus the Phillies and Pirates have been playing in a series here so....
riversedge
(70,270 posts)even pull out my cross country skis.
BumRushDaShow
(129,304 posts)When the ground doesn't have that moisture as we go into summer, it just heats up so much faster and you get those triple digits more often than when you have a "normal" or wet spring.
Passages
(125 posts)progressoid
(49,992 posts)Wonder Why
(3,231 posts)pfitz59
(10,386 posts)Legit companies have secure moorage and watches on moorings. Doubling lines and adjusting them as river levels vary.