Repairs begin to Mid-Bay Bridge
A crew is in place begin repairs to the Mid-Bay Bridge's fender system damaged by a barge Jan. 30.
Florida Marine Transporters, the Mandeville, La., company that owns the barge and towboat that hit the fender, agreed to pay for the repairs even though investigators found no negligence on its part.
FNW of Alabama is the contractor for the repairs, according to the state Department of Transportation. The DOT expects the job to be finished in about 90 days, weather permitting.
The towboat Harvey Sbisa was pushing the barge eastbound in the Intracoastal Waterway near the bridge at about 2 a.m. Jan. 30 when 45-knot winds pushed the barge to the right.
Petty Officer Aaron Frost with Coast Guard Station Panama City said the towboat captain put all the engines full, but they died unexpectedly. The captain was able to push through the opening under the bridge, but the barge caused more than $250,000 damage to its fender system.
Coast Guard Station Destin responded to the accident and allowed the boat and barge to continue to Panama City.
Frost said no charges will be filed.
DOT spokesperson Tommie Speights likened the bridge's fender system to a protective fence in front of a building. The lack of a fender system doesn't compromise the Mid-Bay Bridge's integrity, but it is vulnerable to more collisions without it.