Efforts continue in removing construction barges that broke loose from river moorings

An $18 million project to restore a section of the C&O Canal towpath in the Big Slackwater area south of Williamsport is expected to continue on schedule despite an incident a little over a week ago in which two construction barges associated with the work came loose from their moorings and floated downstream.

Kiewit Corp., the contractor performing the work, is a large enough company that park officials are confident the firm will be able to move enough replacement equipment to the site to continue the work, Christiana Hanson, spokeswoman for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, said Monday.

What repairs is Kiewit making to the Big Slackwater area? 

The firm is rebuilding a stone wall along the canal to help it better withstand flooding conditions on the river, Hanson said. The firm is working on a nearly mile-long section of the canal, and the project is a continuation of work on that section of the canal — referred to as Big Slackwater — that was completed previously, she said.

The earlier work involved bolting 121 columns to rock to support elevated walkways along the towpath. More than $19 million was spent on that phase.

A little more than a week ago, two Kiewit barges holding construction equipment for the latest project broke loose from their moorings in rough floodwaters on the river. They floated downstream on Mother's Day, and word of the incident quickly spread on social media as people gathered along the river to watch the crafts go by. Emergency officials were stationed on bridges to monitor the barges in case they hit any of the spans.

Story background:Runaway barges on Potomac stabilized; related to canal park work in Washington County

More:Contents of one stuck construction barge dumped in Potomac River

More:One of two barges stuck on Potomac River moved to W.Va. side for dismantling

The smaller of the two barges became caught in surging water at Dam No. 4 while the bigger one continued downstream and became lodged at Dam No. 3 just above Harpers Ferry, W.Va. 

Hanson said last week that contractors were able to pull the smaller barge from Dam No. 4 and move it to the Maryland shore so a generator could be removed from it. The park service provided photos showing a tug boat moving the barge.

Then the barge was moved about a half-mile downstream to a spot on the West Virginia shoreline that provides good access to the craft, Hanson said. The property is privately owned and the owner has agreed to allow the barge to be kept there while the contractor comes up with a way to dismantle and remove it.

Hanson said Monday that barge is still in the water as Kiewit officials determine a way to remove it.

Isn't there an excavator still in the river?

An excavator fell off the barge at Dam No. 4. Hanson said water conditions are still not safe enough to remove the excavator and she expects that won't happen until summer.

"It's not going to be left there. The contractor will put it out," Hanson said.

Hanson said she anticipates that removing the barge from Dam No. 3 will be a trickier job. Dam No. 3 is a former hydroelectric facility and the barge was snagged by the ruins of it, she said. Hanson said it appears it would be difficult to get a tug boat close to that barge.

Meanwhile, Kiewit officials are performing an inventory of what type of tools were on that craft, Hanson said. One of the pieces was another excavator that could be seen on it as it floated past Potomac River communities on Mother's Day.