Barge Collides with Bridge in Texas, Causing Oil Spill and Road Closure, According to Reuters

A barge collided with a bridge on the Texas coast on Wednesday, leading to the closure of the sole roadway connecting a small island near Galveston, according to city officials.

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the Pelican Island Bridge remained intact following the incident, which occurred around 10 a.m. However, some oil was released into the water as a result of the crash, as stated by the Galveston city authorities.

The Pelican Island Bridge is situated approximately 60 miles southeast of Houston.

The U.S. Coast Guard is currently responding to the situation and will assess the extent of the spill while beginning containment and cleanup efforts. An investigation is also underway, although officials have not yet determined the cause of the accident.

Engineers from the Texas Department of Transportation are on their way to inspect the bridge, which will remain closed until it is cleared as safe for use.

This incident raises ongoing concerns in the U.S. regarding the vulnerability of bridges to large vessels, particularly in light of a previous collision involving a cargo ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, which resulted in six fatalities and the subsequent collapse of that bridge.