A large barge struck a bridge on Saturday which forced cops to shut down traffic. Troopers diverted traffic away from the area after learning that the barge had collided with the bridge.
Officers quickly diverted traffic away from the area, according to Oklahoma Department of Transportation, which added that “drivers can detour using I-40, SH-2 and SH-9.”
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation posted on X that the US-59 is open at the Arkansas River, south of Sallisaw near the Sequoyah/LeFlore County line after a barge hit the bridge.
As it is reported, engineers inspected the structure and found it safe to reopen.
It was not immediately known what caused the barge to hit the bridge.
Earlier on Saturday the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Department of Public Safety said the “US-59 south of Sallisaw at the Kerr Reservoir is completely shut down at this time due to a barge that has struck the bridge. Troopers are diverting traffic away from the area. The bridge is going to be shut down until inspections of the bridge can be made.”
Saturday’s incident came just days after the Singapore-flagged container ship, DALI with a GT of 95,128, allided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge crossing the Patapsco River, Baltimore, USA at approximately 01.30 hours (local time) on 26 March 2024.
US-59 south of Sallisaw at the Kerr Reservoir is completely shut down at this time due to a barge that has struck the bridge. Troopers are diverting traffic away from the area. The bridge is going to be shut down until inspections of the bridge can be made. pic.twitter.com/IONAbvGOEk
— OK Highway Patrol/DPS (@OHPDPS) March 30, 2024
