(Above) On the south branch of the Chicago River north of the Randolph Street Bridge on Monday, a salvage crew works to resolve a barge that has been half-sunk since Friday. Seen from the Lake Street Bridge, a Seadog tour boat passes through a narrow channel at left. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

October 21, 2014 – Under the watchful eye of the United States Coast Guard, a salvage crew is still working on the construction barge that sank on the Chicago River on Friday.

Just south of the Lake Street Bridge, the barge was moored at the construction site for 150 North Riverside. Clark Construction Group was loading the barge with clay that was going to be used at the nearby Chicago Riverwalk site. At about 12:35 p.m., a witness heard “a loud snap” and the barge quickly took on water.

There were no injuries and, according to the Coast Guard, no reports of any pollution.

Until salvage operations are complete, the Coast Guard is enforcing a “safety zone” from the Lake Street Bridge to the Randolph Street Bridge. Boats have a 50-foot-wide channel through which to pass but must do so single-file.

(Above) View of the barge from the Randolph Street Bridge.

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