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16-Mile Stretch of Big Muddy Still Closed in Wake of Barge Collision

By on January 30, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Coast Guard is letting southbound vessels pass through a closed section of the Mississippi River at Vicksburg to test how they will affect efforts to remove oil from a leaking barge.

Chief Petty Officer Paul Roszkowski tells The Associated Press a 16-mile stretch of the river remains closed four days after two barges struck a railroad bridge.

The leaking barge is pushed against the Louisiana shore. Crews hope to start moving the oil to another barge Wednesday.

Roszkowski says southbound barges are being allowed to pass so crews can monitor the effects on cleanup operations. The Coast Guard could permit test runs with northbound barges on Wednesday afternoon.

The Guard said 7,000 gallons of crude oil were unaccounted for, but some could have seeped inside the barge.