BARGE HITS PYLON, SPAN SHUT DOWN

CAIRO, Ill. -- A barge struck a bridge pylon late Sunday afternoon closing the two-lanes linking Cairo, Ill., and Western Kentucky across the Ohio River.

A spokesman from the Ballard County, Ky., Sheriff's Department said an empty cargo hauler struck the pylon about 2 p.m. Sunday. He said the sheriff's department wasn't notified until three hours later.

The bridge was closed at 5:30 p.m. and a bridge inspector from Reidland, Ky., was en route, he said.

"As soon as he gives the OK, we'll open it back up," the spokesman said.

Authorities weren't providing a detour, anticipating that the bridge would only be closed for a few hours.

"It's at least a hundred miles out of the way to go anywhere else and cross," the spokesman said.