Bridge Collapse In Western Kentucky

[BurgerBoy]

Last night the Eggnes Ferry Bridge that crosses Kentucky Lake, at Kenlake State Park, in Western Kentucky, collapsed when it was hit by a cargo ship that was 85 feet wide, 317 feet long, and 32 feet high.

It about 15 miles from where I live. What a mess.

It will stop all barge and tow boat traffic that goes through KY Lake from New England to the Mississippi River.

The cargo ship was carring empty rocket cases for NASA.

 

[Cobroller]

Reminds me of the I-40 bridge collapse after a tow hit it in 2002. Fourteen dead from that one on the Arkansas River.

 

[GF]

I saw that on the Louisville news... empty rocket cases you say?
Good luck on getting the bridge fixed, you know what a mess it's been up here without the Sherman Minton bridge this winter.

All our infrastructure is in trouble, 25% of Indiana’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Now with barges runnin' into them with rockets on board.... we might as well boat from one side to the other.

GF

 

[Bekeart]

Bridge Collapse - Improper Lane Usage

Bridge Collapse - Improper Lane Usage


That collapse back in 2002 was a tow that was out of the channel and hit a pier.

The Kentucky Lake Collapse (1/26/2012) last night did not involve hitting a pier/piling. The pilot attempted to pass under the WRONG span of the bridge. The failed attempt involved inadequate vertical clearance. The correct passage under the highway bridge has almost SIXTY feet of vertical clearance today, according to the gauge painted on the pier/piling.

I went to see the damaged bridge and stranded ship late this morning. It appears that the bow of the ship hit the highway bridge and pushed a section off of the supporting piers / pilings. The highway bridge section is still firmly attached to the bow of the ship. I f bow had been a little lower ( or highway bridge slightly higher), first impact would have been the ships bridge.

Ship did NOT appear to have hit pier/piling. No scratched paint on the hull - no paint of pier/piling.

The ship has made previous trips; this is not the first. Paducah paper has picture of the ship passing Paducah in 2007.

MANY unanswered questions. Why attempting the wrong passage?? Why was the low highway bridge not noticed?? How fast was ship traveling?? Weather conditions?? (Region had several rainstorms That day)

*****
Link to story with picture:

Kentucky Bridge Collapses After Being Struck By Cargo Ship | Fox News

******

In the picture - the preferred passage ( with almost sixty feet of vertical clearance) is the second one this side of the ship.

*****

I LOVED using my Simmons 12-36 Spotting scope today.

Bekeart

 

[LAKOTA169]

I remember going over that bridge in the mid-70's while they were doing repair work. We were going to visit wife's family who live in the Benton/Hardin area. We are going to be in that area again the end of June for a memorial service for my wife's sister. Staying at Kenoaks.

 

[BurgerBoy]

Bridge Collapse - Improper Lane Usage


That collapse back in 2002 was a tow that was out of the channel and hit a pier.

The Kentucky Lake Collapse (1/26/2012) last night did not involve hitting a pier/piling. The pilot attempted to pass under the WRONG span of the bridge. The failed attempt involved inadequate vertical clearance. The correct passage under the highway bridge has almost SIXTY feet of vertical clearance today, according to the gauge painted on the pier/piling.

I went to see the damaged bridge and stranded ship late this morning. It appears that the bow of the ship hit the highway bridge and pushed a section off of the supporting piers / pilings. The highway bridge section is still firmly attached to the bow of the ship. I f bow had been a little lower ( or highway bridge slightly higher), first impact would have been the ships bridge.

Ship did NOT appear to have hit pier/piling. No scratched paint on the hull - no paint of pier/piling.

The ship has made previous trips; this is not the first. Paducah paper has picture of the ship passing Paducah in 2007.

MANY unanswered questions. Why attempting the wrong passage?? Why was the low highway bridge not noticed?? How fast was ship traveling?? Weather conditions?? (Region had several rainstorms That day)

*****
Link to story with picture:

Kentucky Bridge Collapses After Being Struck By Cargo Ship | Fox News

******

In the picture - the preferred passage ( with almost sixty feet of vertical clearance) is the second one this side of the ship.

*****

I LOVED using my Simmons 12-36 Spotting scope today.

Bekeart

I went to see the bridge damage too. Here's some pictures of it: Photo Gallery: Eggner's Ferry Bridge collapse | WPSD Local 6 - News, Sports, Weather - Paducah KY | Local

 

[Stevens]

I'm afraid when the answers are know, there are going to be some big problems for whoever was in charge on that ship. Maybe a novice was at the wheel.
Steve W

 

[Faulkner]

Ships running into things they're not supposed to . . . seems to be a lot of that going on around the world lately.