A bridge near Sallisaw, Oklahoma, reopened to traffic earlier today after a collision with a barge caused a temporary closure. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) reported that a barge struck a bridge over the Arkansas River at the Kerr Reservoir on Saturday afternoon.
The incident, which occurred around 1:25 pm CDT, prompted the closure of US-59 south of Sallisaw. Troopers diverted traffic while engineers inspected the bridge for potential damage.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported on either the barge or the highway. The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Coast Guard.
After a thorough inspection, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) determined the bridge sustained no significant structural damage. ODOT crews cleared the scene, and the bridge reopened to traffic by 4:00 pm CDT.
The brief closure caused some delays for motorists in the area. Local law enforcement encouraged drivers to use alternate routes, including I-40, SH-2, and SH-9, while the bridge was inspected.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of waterway safety and infrastructure maintenance. While fortunately there were no injuries in this case, collisions between barges and bridges can pose serious risks.
