(Above) This frame from a video captured by Captain Carter Hansen from a Wendella water taxi shows a construction barge sinking on the Chicago River on Friday. (Click on image to view larger version.)

October 18, 2014 – A construction barge on the Chicago River took on water and sank Friday afternoon. It happened south of the Lake Street Bridge at about 12:35 p.m. No one was injured.

The barge was being used by Clark Construction Group to load clay from the construction site of a high-rise building on the west side of the river between Lake Street and Randolph Street. The clay was going to be used by the nearby Chicago Riverwalk site.

A witness says he heard “a loud snap” and the barge sank within minutes.

The United States Coast Guard established a safety zone between the bridges at Lake and Randolph. It will be lifted temporarily at 9 a.m. on Saturday during a scheduled bridge lift but enforced when boats have passed.

According to the Coast Guard, there were no reports of pollution.

On July 10, a construction barge being used to expand the Chicago Riverwalk sank. It was recovered on July 21.

 Video: YouTube