Overview
On Wednesday, May 15, a barge collided with a bridge on the Texas coast, causing the closure of the only roadways to a small island off the city of Galveston, located nearly 300 km from Dallas.
Incident Details
The barge, owned by New York State-based Martin Petroleum, struck the bridge around 10 a.m. local time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the bridge remained intact after the collision.
Oil Spill Concerns
- The Office of Emergency Management confirmed that vacuum gas oil from the barge had leaked into the water, with the barge’s total capacity being 30,000 gallons.
- The extent of the spill and cleanup efforts are being assessed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Response and Precautions
About 6.5 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway has been closed to water traffic as a precautionary measure. The Texas Department of Transportation engineers will inspect the bridge to ensure its safety before reopening.
The City of Galveston stated that the U.S. Coast Guard is leading the response efforts, including containment and cleanup processes.
Investigation and Concerns
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. This incident adds to the growing concerns in the United States regarding the vulnerability of bridges to large ships, following a similar collision in Baltimore earlier this year.
