The McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge reopened Tuesday afternoon, about an hour after loose barges that might have struck the bridge forced its closure.

The barges went through around 11:45 a.m., and Allegheny County officials said via Twitter that at least one barge might have struck the piers.

Coast Guard Lt. Shawn Simeral said three barges carrying limestone were being towed when they broke free.

“We’re still trying to confirm what happened and if anything was struck,” Simeral said.

The barges were corralled and recovered without further incident, he said. There are no water traffic restrictions on the river.

PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said crews inspected the bridge and deemed it safe, and it was reopened to traffic before 1 p.m.

The runaway barge and bridge closure come three weeks after a dozen barges broke loose on the Monongahela River, shutting down the McKees Rocks, West End, Fort Pitt, Liberty, Smithfield and Panhandle bridges for hours.

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