Coast Guard considers alterations to Simmesport Railroad Bridge

Coast Guard considers alterations to Simmesport Railroad Bridge    The U.S. Coast Guard will hold a public meeting in Baton Rouge, La., July 20 to consider alterations to Simmesport Railroad Bridge.
   The agency has received numerous complaints that the bridge is “unreasonably obstructive” to commercial navigation. In addition, numerous bridge “allusions” have occurred between 1991 and 2003, the Coast Guard said.
   “The navigation opening of the bridge is 131 feet and causes significant delays to commercial water traffic during periods of high water,” the agency said.
   To avoid the Simmesport Railroad Bridge, many vessel operators take the Port Allen route to Morgan City, La., adding 137 miles or a day to their trip.
   The Coast Guard said the comments from the public hearing could result in relocating and increasing the horizontal clearance of the railroad bridge to meet the needs of navigation.
   For more information about the meeting, contact bridge administrator Roger Wiebusch at (314) 539-3900, ext. 2378.