Current:Home > ScamsBridge between Galveston and Pelican Island remains closed after barge crash -FinanceAcademy
Bridge between Galveston and Pelican Island remains closed after barge crash
View
Date:2025-04-19 04:37:29
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — The bridge connecting Galveston, Texas, to Pelican Island remained closed Thursday after a barge crashed into a pillar supporting the span, causing it to partially collapse, and a university urged staff and faculty to leave its campus there.
The accident happened Wednesday morning when a tugboat pushing two fuel barges lost control of them and one hit the structure, said David Flores, a bridge superintendent with the Galveston County Navigation District. The bridge provided the only road access between Galveston and the small island.
Oil leaking from the barge led to the closure of about 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometers) of the waterway. The barge, owned by Martin Petroleum, has a 30,000-gallon capacity, but officials have not said how much leaked into the bay.
The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to questions Thursday morning regarding the status of the oil spill.
Meanwhile, the barge remained beside the bridge, weighed in place by debris including rail lines that fell onto the vessel when the crash happened.
Texas A&M University at Galveston recommended temporarily vacating the island.
“Given the rapidly changing conditions and uncertainty regarding the outage of the Pelican Island Bridge, the Galveston Campus administration will be relocating all Texas A&M Pelican Island residents,” through at least Sunday, it said in a statement late Wednesday.
Fewer than 200 people related to the school were on the island when the barge hit the bridge, according to the school.
Spokesperson Shantelle Patterson-Swanson said the university would provide transportation and cover the housing costs of those who choose to leave, but underlined that the school has not issued a mandatory evacuation.
Aside from the environmental impact of the oil spill, the region is unlikely to see large economic disruption as a result of the accident, said Marcia Burns, a maritime transportation expert at the University of Houston
The affected area is miles from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which sees frequent barge traffic, and the Houston Ship Channel, a large shipping channel for ocean-going vessels.
The accident came weeks after a cargo ship crashed into a support column of the Francis Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26, killing six construction workers.
veryGood! (35167)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Unfortunate. That describes Joel Embiid injury, games played rule, and NBA awards mess
- Taylor Swift Drops Reputation Easter Eggs With Must-See 2024 Grammys Look
- FOX debuts Caitlin Clark cam during Iowa's women's basketball game against Maryland
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Detroit man dies days after being mauled by three dogs, wife says
- 'It sucks getting old': Jon Lester on Red Sox, Cubs and his future Hall of Fame prospects
- Jillian Michaels Details the No. 1 Diet Mistake People Make—Other Than Ozempic
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Grammys 2024: Victoria Monét, Dua Lipa and More Turn the Red Carpet Into a Family Affair
Ranking
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Winners and losers of NHL All-Star Game weekend: This year's event was much more competitive
- Grammys 2024: Paris Jackson Covers Up 80+ Tattoos For Unforgettable Red Carpet Moment
- Grammys 2024: Victoria Monét, Dua Lipa and More Turn the Red Carpet Into a Family Affair
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Kandi Burruss Leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta After 14 Seasons
- John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's Grammys 2024 Appearance Is No Ordinary Date Night
- 'Curb your Enthusiasm' Season 12: Cast, release date, how to watch the final episodes
Recommendation
The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
Grammys 2024: Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Victoria Monét and More Best Dressed Stars on the Red Carpet
Taking the SAT in March? No need to sharpen a pencil
Lionel Messi, David Beckham, Inter Miami hear boos after Messi sits out Hong Kong friendly
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
U.S. begins strikes to retaliate for drone attack that killed 3 American soldiers
Newspaper heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped 50 years ago. Now she’s famous for her dogs
Joe Rogan inks multiyear deal with Spotify, podcast to expand to other platforms