Coast Guard finally removes barge from river bridge

VICKSBURG — A damaged barge has been removed from the Interstate 20 bridge on the Mississippi River.

The wayward barge crashed into a bridge support March 23. The United States Coast Guard had tried several methods to remove it, but all had been unsuccessful before yesterday.

It was finally removed with cranes and chains that pulled the barge away from the concrete pillar. One of the previous methods involved sinking the barge, but that did not work.

The freed barge will be moved up the canal to the Port of Vicksburg, so it can be salvaged.

The bridge carries Interstate 20 and U.S. 80 traffic over the Mississippi River between Mississippi and Louisiana.

Source: Associated Press