Recovery Of Barges That Crashed Into Bridge Nears Completion

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — The Army Corp of Engineers says crews are making progress recovering two barges that were involved in a December accident along the Ohio River.

A towboat carrying 15 barges loaded with coal crashed into the Clark Memorial Bridge that links Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky, on Dec. 25.

Six were recovered quickly, but the remaining nine were trapped along the McAlpine Locks and Dam near Clarksville, Indiana.

High water has repeatedly halted recovery work but only three remain to be recovered.

Shawn Kenney is assistant operations manager for the McAlpine Locks for the Army Corps' Louisville district. He tells the News and Tribune crews hope to have two of the barges that are still trapped at the McAlpine Locks recovered within days.

The third barge is along the river's shoreline.