Dive Brief:

• In addition to the standard challenges of construction over water, the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project on the Hudson River north of New York City has to deal with keeping barges moored in a wide stretch of the river where there can be high winds and choppy water.
• A bridge loaded with steel piles got free Sunday afternoon and headed down-river until a nearby resident spotted it and called police.
• It was the third time that barges have broken free, and the state is increasing its scrutiny of safety procedures and mooring methods used by the consortium building the project, Tappan Zee Contractors.

Dive Insight:

So far, there have been no accidents involving barges from the project that have broken loose, though one did get about 13 miles during a January snowstorm. There was one fatal accident, but in that case a boat hit a barge that was exactly where it was supposed to be.