A 3rd towboat has allided with the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge in as many days as floodwaters proceed to influence transport on the Mississippi River. 

The newest incident occurred Thursday when a barge being pushed by towing vessel Robert D. Byrd struck the bridge at about roughly 7:44 a.m.

The string of incidents started Tuesday when the towing vessel Ron W. Callegan with 22 barges struck the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge, inflicting 9 barges to interrupt free. Two of the barges containing coal later sank. On Wednesday, one other towing vessel, the Inez Andreas, additionally allided with the bridge, inflicting two barges to interrupt free, certainly one of which sank.

The newest replace by National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service on Thursday mentioned the Mississippi River at Vicksburg was at 49.98 ft, virtually seven ft above flood stage. 

The Coast Guard mentioned Thursday that due to the three incidents in three days, it’s at the moment evaluating further navigation security measures so as to scale back the potential for future accidents.

The Mississippi River stays open to visitors within the space.

An replace from the Coast Guard on Monday mentioned that prime water advisory remained in place on the Lower Mississippi River from mile marker 869, close to Caruthersville, Missouri, to mile marker 303 close to Natchez, Mississippi, attributable to latest flooding within the midwest.

The Vicksburg Railroad bridge is positioned at mile marker 435.8 on the Mississippi River close to Vicksburg. The bridge is to stay closed till a security inspection is accomplished by the Vicksburg Bridge Commission and the State of Mississippi, the Coast Guard mentioned.

The causes of all three incidents are beneath investigation.