Barge Poses Potential Threat to Broad River Users

A barge that washed up on an island near the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers could pose a danger to river users and wildlife, according to river advocates. 

The barge broke loose from the construction site at the Broad River Road bridge last week . 

It was part of several pieces that were holding a large crane near the bridge, according to a report in The State.

Congaree Riverkeeper, a group that works to protect the Congaree, Lower Saluda and Lower Broad rivers, wants the contractor working on the bridge construction to remove the barge. 

“These large pieces of debris can be extremely dangerous to recreational river users, especially when they become mobile at high water,” Riverkeeper Bill Stangler told The State. “We are actually very lucky that nobody has been hurt or even killed by these large pieces of debris."

The contractor met with the S.C. Department of Transportation to discuss removing the barge, according to The State, but said it could take a while for it to happen.