Barges Break Free After Pittsburgh Rivers Rise

Spring rains have caused high flows on the Allegheny and Beaver rivers in the Pittsburgh region, with construction barges breaking free and going over a dam downriver earlier this month.

Three construction barges positioned to support the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Beaver River Bridge Total Reconstruction Project were discovered to have broken free of their moorings about 6:30 a.m. April 2, said Crispin Havener, assistant press secretary for the commission.

No one was at the job site at the time, and no equipment was on the barges, Havener said. Subcontractor Fay, S&B USA Construction owns the barges. Grant Ervin, vice president of external affairs for the company, said one barge was recovered at the Eastvale Dam at Beaver Falls, Pa., hours later. Another remained stuck on the dam, April 7, waiting for water to recede enough to attempt a recovery. A third was at the next dam downriver. Fay, S&B USA Construction was working with outside sources to plan the recovery of the barges, Ervin said.

Both the construction subcontractor and the turnpike commission were investigating the cause of the breakaway, but they said the Beaver River was swollen after periods of heavy rain when it took place.

The Pittsburgh Engineer District reported that Allegheny River Locks 5 and 8 were forced to close April 2 after the flood stage was exceeded for the safety of the personnel and the facilities. Those reopened April 6, Pittsburgh Engineer District public affairs specialist Andrew Byrne said.

Christ Leonardi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Center’s Pittsburgh office, said heavy rainfall the evening of March 31 and on April 1 was the latest round of precipitation in a week with 3 to 4 inches of total rainfall falling in some areas. Additionally, he said, much of the rain went straight into the river instead of being soaked up by vegetation since it is still very early spring.

A river gauge showed that the Beaver River rose from a little more than 6 feet March 31 to more than 10 feet the next afternoon and reached a high of 11.6 feet by the afternoon of April 2. Flood stage is 15 feet, Leonardi said. By April 4, it had fallen to 9.9 feet.

Shane Checkan, general manager of Industry Terminal & Salvage and chairman of the Waterways Association of Pittsburgh’s navigation committee, said recent high flows have been troublesome, even when they don’t reach flood levels.

“Over the past several weeks and months, we’ve seen a noticeable shift in how these events develop,” he said. “The rises are sharper, faster and more isolated instead of the steady, widespread rain we’re used to. Currently, the Allegheny and Beaver River basins are driving most of the flow, while the Monongahela isn’t reacting as much. This shows how concentrated the rainfall has been in certain areas. That creates quicker spikes, less lead time for preparation, and often faster, more volatile drops behind it.”

Operationally, he said, “everything slows down and becomes more complex.”

“We’re spending significantly more time and effort on safety for crews and securing equipment,” Checkan said. “Economically, it adds up quickly. High water rates go into effect, we move less cargo at a time, and delays stack up between locks, weather and fleeting. All of that creates constraints across the system and impacts the supply chain.”

Safety measures crews put into place include increasing communication, monitoring river levels constantly, securing fleets more aggressively and slowing operations down, where needed, he said.

“Crews are reminded to stay disciplined, use proper PPE and make conservative decisions,” Checkan added. “:Preparation is key because once conditions escalate, reaction time is limited.”

Those working on the river, either on a boat or on shore, should stay vigilant and avoid complacency.

“Conditions change fast, currents are stronger than they look, and hazards aren’t always visible,” Checkan said. “Communication and awareness are critical. Control what you can control and prioritize safety above everything else.”

In the end, he said, sharper river rises and falls impact more than just river operations.

“They affect the entire supply chain,” he said. “The industry is built to adapt, but repeated high-water events create real constraints. At the end of the day, safety has to outweigh schedule every time.”

Some good news, at least for now, is in the forecast, however.

Leonardi said April 6 that the National Weather Service forecasts no heavy rains in the area for at least the next week.