Emerson Bridge reopens

The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge in Cape Girardeau has been reopened following a collision with a barge that prompted temporary closure Friday, according to Missouri Department of Transportation.

The bridge reopened to traffic at 7:45 a.m. Saturday.

The collision happened at about 9:20 p.m. Friday, Missouri Department of Transportation engineer Mark Shelton said Saturday morning.

Bridge inspection was completed at 7:13 a.m. Saturday and no damage was found, Shelton said.

“I can’t recall a barge hitting the [Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge],” he said. “ A couple years ago we had one that hit the Chester Bridge, and within the last two or three years we’ve had one or two [barges] that have hit the Caruthersville Bridge.”

Shelton said the cause of Friday’s collision is unknown at this time.