ORIGINAL STORY
MASON COUNTY, W.Va . (WSAZ) – The Pomeroy-Mason Bridge is shut down Friday afternoon due to a barge strike, according to the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office.
The WVDOT says the westbound and eastbound roads of the bridge are closed. They say the bridge did sustain damage from the barge strike.
The U.S. Coast Guard and WVDOT has been notified and deputies say to avoid the bridge until further notice.
UPDATE 3/6/26 @ 4:05 p.m.
MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Runaway barges are still headed downriver on the Ohio River after a mid-afternoon barge strike Friday to the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge, the West Virginia Department of Transportation said.
The agency said first responders were planning to close the Silver Memorial Bridge to let the barges pass.
A runaway barge hit a support pier on the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge a little after 2 p.m. Friday, according to WVDOT.
The agency said it will update the public as more information is available.
UPDATE 3/6/26 @ 5:45 p.m.
MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – All runaway barges in connection with an incident that closed the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge have been secured, according to West Virginia 511.
Earlier Friday afternoon, a barge hit a support pier on the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge, closing it as a precaution.
Officials said no other bridges have been hit, and closure of the Silver Memorial Bridge will not be necessary.
Meanwhile, the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge remains closed for now.
UPDATE 3/6/26 @ 6:55 p.m.
MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The Pomeroy-Mason Bridge is reopen Friday evening after it was struck by a runaway barge earlier in the afternoon, the West Virginia Department of Transportation reported.
No injuries were reported.
According to the WVDOT, a rope crew and inspector assessed all of the impacted area and found no damage to the bridge structure.
For details see