This 312 foot supply ship struck a local bridge about 8pm last evening. For an undetermined reason it attempted to go under a span too low for it to pass instead of the main shipping channel. The ship remains stuck under the bridge this morning. Fortunately no known deaths or injuries are reported at the present time. Two spans approximately 200 foot of road surface between towers of the bridge were knocked out. Some bridge super structure is reported on local news to be wrapped around the bow.
The Egner Ferry bridge spans Kentucky Lake. It will add about 44 miles to the trip for anyone who needs to drive this stretch of highway by detouring to the next available bridges below Kentucky Dam.
I have some knowledge of the ship specially designed to navigate shallow waters. The ship picks up NASA rocket booster sections built in I believe Decatur Alabama. When I worked as a towboat dispatcher we would have delays at the locks due to this vessel having priority at the locks.
The photos here I took on March 28 2010. The ship was leaving Kentucky Dam Lock.
The weather was much like yesterday when the ship struck the bridge. Rain and foggy haze making for poor visibility. The Egner Ferry bridge opened on March 25, 1932 before the Lake was flooded. The bridge was closed for about 5 months in 1943 to raise the structure to make room for Kentucky Lake according to Wikipedia. A ferry was established to cross the Tennessee river while these repairs were made in 1943. The bridge was slated to be replaced beginning in 2011. Expected completion was planned for 2016.
This is not my normal type post but thought others might be interested in seeing this special built ship. One of a kind that navigates our local waters. It takes an incident such as this to bring the ship and bridge to folks knowledge. I feel sad for those that use this section of road on a regular basis for it will be a long time before this road will once again be connected by a bridge.
Update Note: This post is getting a large response. Links to more info can be found in the comments section.
I saw this on the news and was struck by the story and the name of the bridge and I would like to know who the name came came from
Leon,
I emailed you a response with what little info I could find on the naming of the bridge. Perhaps someone else reading this comment knows more and can help you out. Thanks for stopping by.
Leon,
The email I sent was blocked. Do a search on “naming Egners ferry bridge. There is a post on the “Roots Web” website referring to someones grandfather being who the bridge was named after.
Leon,
In more research I found there is a book “Marshall County” written by Connie M Huddleston, Carol Aldridge, and Virginia Smith. An excerpt from the book says that a Lyman Harvey Eggner’s father that purchased the ferry around 1848. In 1878 Lyman took over the business. He died in 1885. His wife remarried and her husband ran the ferry until they sold out in 1932. Perhaps the book may be worth purchasing for you and I. It is available on amazon, and at bookstores I think. I will see if our local library has it. Good Luck in you search.
Leon,
Gary J sent me a link to a website that has more information concerning the bridge naming and the ferry that was used prior. Thanks Gary for the help.
This is the link http://prairiebluestem.blogspot.com/2007/08/old-bridges-at-land-between-lakes-ky.html
Thanks
I couldn’t find much on line about the accident.
Your post was very informative. Interesting ship, in fortunate incident. I heard one radio report that bridge lights were dark last night
If Sass once worked at the Whalers Catch. say hi for me
Bruce,
Thanks for stopping by. Don’t know the Sass you refer to from Whaler’s Catch restaurant. I am not sure they know yet for sure about the bridge lights being on or not at the time. Sad but true that as long as there are bridges and vessels there will be incidents of collisions. I am glad what little I know gave you a tad more info.
I lived in St. Petersburg, Florida in the 70s when a ship hit the Skyway Bridge over Tampa bay. Several sections of bridge fell into the bay and many were killed. I’m glad the same thing didn’t happen there. VERY scary stuff.
New Hampshire Gardiner,
From the images on the news it is extremely fortunate no one injured. It looks as if the ship took out that whole section of bridge. Scary for sure.
It’s a real mess. Here’s a link to video of the ship and what’s left of the bridge. http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/news/national/south/officials-say-portion-of-sw-ky-bridge-collapses-nt12-jgr_4055330
I hope nobody drove off the end of the bridge. That’s exactly what happened in Florida, and how so many died.
New Hampshire Gardener,
Thanks for sharing the link and what a mess it is. No one drove off the bridge but one report said 4 cars where on the bridge at the time. One man stopping within 5 foot of the missing section.
Just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your posts…liked the picture of the ship with the pelicans & heron..didn’t know that a ship that size navigated those waters…I’ll miss the sound of the rooster crowing when I visit, but love the pictures of the cardinals and songbirds..Thanks.
Martha,
Nice of you to say you enjoy the posts. The picture with ship, heron, and pelicans was a surprise to me. That picture is neat I thought to myself. It triggered in my memory how I waited for the ship to move into position in the viewfinder. I too will miss the crowing and quacking but ready to hear the wild birds before daylight. The warblers and whip-poor-wills got covered up by the poultry noises. Appreciate the compliments.