Bridge Closed After Barge Strike

The Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge in Cameron Parish, La., was closed until further notice after it was reportedly hit by a barge on June 22. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that the bridge on LA 384 (Big Lake Road) was closed to vehicle and marine traffic due to a vessel impacting the bridge.

The bridge crosses the bayou along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at Mile 238.0. It was hit around 7:15 a.m., according to the department. The pontoon, north apron, north apron spans and northeast fender system were heavily damaged. The agencyplans to issue updates as bridge conditions change.

The bridge is one of four with that name. The others are the historically registered Warren Pony Truss Black Bayou Bridge in Tallahatchie County, Miss.; a rare cable-stayed swing bridge in Terrebonne County, La., built in 1945; and the Route 102 Black Bayou Bridge in Mississippi County, Mo.

The incident remains under investigation.