Full Notification

On Saturday, September 29, 2018, the Whitehall Police Department was dispatched for a report of a barge striking the Saunders Street bridge.

Upon arrival, Police found a barge travelling south on the Champlain Canal from Lock 12 in the center of the canalway wedged underneath the bridge with set two and three of the upright beams on the barge having struck the underside of the bridge structure. Police and Village DPW personnel closed the bridge over Saunders Street to all traffic until an inspection by the New York State Department of Transportation could be completed.

Whitehall Fire assisted Police with their boat to make contact with the vessel pilot and crew to gather information on the incident and confirm there were no injuries. The vessel's crew proceeded to fill the barges ballast tanks with water to lower the vessel in the water and were able to remove and relocate it from under the bridge, docking it safely on the side wall of the canal. Police confirmed the vessel was unloaded and returning south on the canal at the time of the incident.

Following an inspection by NYS DOT Bridge Inspectors and Maintenance they found the structure to be safe and the bridge was re-opened to traffic at approximately 9:15 PM.

Police were assisted at the scene additionally by the NYS DEC Environmental Conservation Police, US Coast Guard and the Washington County Department of Public Safety - the cause of the incident remains under investigation.