The U.S. Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector Houston-Galveston
were notified of the allision at 9:50 a.m.; the cause of the incident is under investigation. The barge, owned
by Martin Petroleum, is believed to be a runaway that broke loose from a tow.
Though no known injuries, two crewmembers were rescued from the water,
according to local media reports.
A portion of an out-of-service railway that runs alongside the bridge
has broken off, and pieces of the wreckage can be seen resting on top of the
barge.
The event has impacted vehicle traffic on the
two-lane Pelican Island Causeway, the sole road to and from Pelican Island—home to the Texas A&M
University at Galveston (TAMUG) as well as several port-related industries.
Traffic had been halted but resumed in one direction to allow people off of
Pelican Island.
Constructed in 1960, the bascule bridge—the last of its kind in
Texas—has long been pegged for replacement, though the plans to do so have
progressed slowly.
The collision comes amid heightened concerns about bridge vulnerability
after the containership Dali collided with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge
in March, leading to the collapse of the structure and the deaths of six
workers.
The U.S. Coast Guard this week said it is evaluating whether other
bridges over navigable waters, ports and waterways nationwide are at risk.