Icy Maumee River slows works on Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge project
3/6/2007The ice-filled Maumee River has brought work on the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge to a near standstill as the March 15 deadline to complete the structure looms closer.
The latest problems include two barges that are being used to prepare the bridge. Brian Schwartz, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner s spokesman, said moving ice on Sunday dislodged a staging barge that was under the MLK Bridge. The barge floated down river and became struck between the MLK Bridge and the Craig Bridge.
Mr. Schwartz said the barge has been secured and workers will need for the river to thaw before it s put back in place.
In the meantime, a second barge that was going to move the second quadrant of the MLK Bridge s new drawspans has not been moved to its work site because of the same problem.
Mr. Schwartz said it is unknown when the final two drawspans will be moved to the bridge and how much farther this has pushed the bridge project behind.
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