Oklahoma Highway Closes Temporarily After Barge Strikes Bridge on Arkansas River

An accident in Oklahoma involving a large barge hitting a bridge over the Arkansas River caused the temporary closure of a major highway on Saturday, as reported by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The incident occurred near the Kerr Lock & Dam, resulting in the closure of South U.S. Highway 59 south of Sallisaw. Troopers responded promptly, closing the highway at approximately 1:25 p.m. and diverting traffic from the affected area.

No Injuries Reported

Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries on the highway or the barge, providing a silver lining to the situation. The barge left a visible mark on the bridge, prompting the closure of the highway for safety measures.

Cause of the Accident

At the time of the incident, the cause of the barge striking the bridge was not immediately known. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation took swift action by inspecting the bridge and later announced the reopening of the highway after ensuring its safety.