The Sunshine Bridge is still closed after a Friday crash damaged.
Because of that, the second Plaquemine ferry will operate until 6 p.m. Sunday. The first ferry will continue its extended weekend hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On weekdays, the second boat will also run an hour longer, until 10 a.m., in the mornings and will start an hour earlier, 1:30 p.m., in the afternoons.
The bridge in Donaldsonville was struck by a barge carrying a crane early Friday.
A main load-carrying support beam received severe damage from the collision.
DOTD says that the bridge will remain closed indefinitely until repairs are made and the bridge is deemed safe for use; the department announced this afternoon that the bridge is still closed.
As our media partners at The Advocate report, with the bridge out-of-service, a 90-second drive between the east and west banks of the river became a nearly hourlong journey. Highway officials suggested that motorists use a bridge at Gramercy, 20 miles south, or the ferry at Plaquemine, 28 miles north. The next closest bridge is at Baton Rouge, a 33-mile one-way drive to the north.
Here’s the Advocate’sfull story on the damage, the efforts underway and the impact.
