UPDATE AT 7:44AM: A barge came loose from a tow and bumped against one of the supports for Veterans Memorial Bridge in Ottawa at about 3:30 this morning. City officials tell WCMY, ADM noticed it was out of place and found it shortly after because of a tracking device. The Illinois Department of Transportation and ADM are sending boats to recover the barge.
Traffic on Illinois across the bridge hasn’t been stopped. But it may be later while IDOT and ADM are handling the barge.
In an unrelated but somewhat similar incident, a small pleasure boat is up against the north side of the Fox River Main St. bridge.
EARLIER STORY: A barge has bumped against one of the supports for the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Ottawa. A photo submitted by a listener shows the barge close to the bridge and diagonal from the normal orientation it would have going up or down the Illinois River. The listener says it’s on the south side of the river.
A barge against a support on the south side of Veterans Memorial Bridge in Ottawa. Photo submitted by Andy Sibert.