Bridge is closed following barge strike near Florence IL
The Illinois Department of Transporation says it could be some time before the bridge carrying Illinois 106 over the Illinois River near Florence is reopened.
The closing is due to a barge that struck the bridge Sunday morning and caused structural damage to some of the supports.
The barge and towboats involved in the accident were headed downriver and they hit one of the concrete protective cells adjacent to the northside of the bridge.
The United States Coast Guard and IDOT are now involved in determining how much damaged was caused by the barge that was loaded with grain.
The Florence bridge was dedicated in 1930 and has carried traffic over the Illinois River east of Pittsfield since that time.
The concern officials have with the bridge and the reason for the closure was because of the weight that some tractor trailer semi's would carry when crossing the bridge.
The next closest bridges to use are either the Valley City Eagle Bridges that carry Interstate 72 to the north or the bridge south of Florence at Hardin. There is also a ferry operated by IDOT at Kampsville.
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