The Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville is closed indefinitely after a barge carrying a crane struck the bridge early Friday morning.
Officials say the barge was traveling down the Mississippi River when it collided with the bridge at around 3:00 am. A main load-carrying support beam received severe damage from the collision.
DOTD says that the bridge will remain closed indefinitely until repairs are made and the bridge is deemed safe for use.
“We know the closure of the Sunshine Bridge is an inconvenience for many travelers, and we will expedite the emergency repairs,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “That being said, safety is our number one concern and we have to ensure the bridge can safely handle traffic before it’s reopened.”
Not a bright day on the Sunshine Bridge. It’s closed until further notice. It was hit last night. pic.twitter.com/dATZtNWxD0
— Shawn Wilson, Ph.D. (@onevisionary) October 12, 2018
Inspectors are on scene this morning using drones to survey the damage.
Detours have been set up by DOTD. A second ferry is running to accommodate additional traffic caused by the bridge closure.
