Barges go rogue: One sinks, traffic stops

COFFEEVILLE — The first of two barges that broke free on May 29 and hit the Jim Folsom Bridge in Coffeeville caused a lengthy closure of U.S. Highway 84 before the bridge was inspected. A second barge went past the bridge and got caught up at the Coffeeville Lock and Dam, where it eventually sank. Officials were notified of the accident at the bridge shortly before 11 a.m. An inspector from the Alabama Department of Transportation later deemed the bridge safe to re-open and traffic resumed at about 12:35 p.m. “ We positioned fire units on the east and west...

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