Boat hits Grosse Tete Bridge in Iberville Parish; closed until further notice
IBERVILLE PARISH, La. (BRPROUD) — The Grosse Tete Bridge could be closed “for a significant amount of time” after it was hit by a boat the morning of Thursday, June 6.
According to the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, the bridge was left with “significant damage” after it was hit around 5:30 a.m. by “a tugboat with barges.” The sheriff’s office and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development assessed the damage.
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said regional representatives are working with local officials and investigators are working to determine the crash’s cause.
“It was foggy this morning a little bit,” said Sheriff Brett Stassi.
Deputies said the bridge was hit while it was not completely open. No injuries were reported and the bridge will stay closed until further notice, according to GOHSEP.
“The pivot point under it was struck and damage to the rotating device,” Stassi said. “No vehicles were on the bridge; thank God it was in the process of opening.”
According to the Iberville Parish Government, Parish President Chris Daigle went to the scene to survey the damage with the U.S. Coast Guard and DOTD engineers. Parish officials said a report from DOTD confirmed that the bridge “will be closed for a significant amount of time.”
“This, this is a vital artery to Iberville Parish in this route,” said Daigle.
Officials are working with the public works department to establish a foot-traffic ferry transport that they hope will be operational by next week.
Stassi said repairs could take months, but there is no estimated timeline for when the bridge will be fixed at this time.
According to DOTD, about 2,000 cars travel across the bridge daily.
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Drivers should consider an alternative route for the foreseeable future. Stassi said drivers should come through Port Allen on LA 1. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett said on the west side, drivers can take La. 77 to I-10.
See photos:
- The Grosse Tete bridge closed after it was hit by a boat on Thursday, June 6. (Iberville Parish Government)
- The Grosse Tete bridge closed after it was hit by a boat on Thursday, June 6. (Iberville Parish Government)
- The Grosse Tete bridge closed after it was hit by a boat on Thursday, June 6. (Iberville Parish Government)
- The Grosse Tete bridge closed after it was hit by a boat on Thursday, June 6. (Iberville Parish Government)
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