Crane being readied after barge under it sank

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Associated Press

Story Created: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:49 AM

Story Updated: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:50 AM

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) - A commonwealth contractor hopes to have a crane back into operation next week after the barge that supported it sank in the Tennessee River.
   
According to The Paducah Sun (http://bit.ly/KMrzSD ), the contractor began pouring concrete Thursday as construction continued on a new bridge at Ledbetter in western Kentucky.
   
An employee of C.J. Mahan Contracting discovered the barge holding the crane was listing on Memorial Day weekend. The barge eventually settled to the bottom and had to be salvaged. It was refloated and will be towed.
   
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Keith Todd said Mahan hopes to have the crane working again Monday or Tuesday. Todd said the project appears to remain on schedule for completion in mid-2014.
   
The old bridge nearby has been placed under a three-ton weight limit.
   
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Information from: The Paducah Sun, http://www.paducahsun.com

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