(The Associated Press circulated the following on May 4.)
BURLINGTON, Iowa — A barge that hit a railway bridge along the Mississippi River has finally been freed.
The jumbo hopper barge became wedged against the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Bridge that connects Burlington, Iowa, and Gulfport, Illinois on Thursday.
It was freed Saturday afternoon – about 63 hours after the accident.
Line boats and towboats from Burlington, Bettendorf, Fort Madison and Decatur, Illinois were used to free the barge and help push it up the river. There appeared to be damage to the barge’s fiber lift covers and a hole at its base.
A railway spokesman says damage to the bridge was minimal and railway traffic had to be shut down, backing up more than 100 trains.
The accident remains under investigation.