Bayou Warehouse bridge hit, wiped out by barge

LYDIA — The bridge over Bayou Warehouse was destroyed by an unattended barge that crashed into it this morning during Hurricane Ike.

Robert Freeman, an environmental science manager with the state Department of Envronmental Quality, said the barge appeared to have broken loose and wiped the bridge out.

Half of the barge was “caught up” and the other half was sunken, Freeman said.

The crash also caused a small amount of old diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid to spll into the bayou. Freeman described the barge as a “keyway” barge used to put rigs on for drilling.

No injuries were reported.

Part of the bridge’s structure is sticking out of the water, he said.