Kennedy Boulevard remains closed in both directions leading up to the Hillsborough River drawbridge as crews work to remove a drill rig involved in an accident Tuesday morning.
According to city of Tampa officials, the drill rig, which was on a barge on the river, became hooked on the bridge as it went up. The drill rig then slid partially off the barge and into the river.
Crews are trying to determine the best way to lift the drill rig. That likely will involve a higher capacity crane, which will be used to secure the partially submerged drill rig.
Crews also will have to sever the cable hooking the bridge -- a highly dangerous exercise that will possibly have to be completed with a torch, according to officials.
The stabilization and lift of the drill rig is not anticipated to occur until tomorrow morning. Once the rig is removed from the scene, the Florida Department of Transportation can then inspect Kennedy Bridge. The City of Tampa does not anticipate opening the bridge to motorists until late tomorrow.
"Our goal is to get everything ready to lift the drill rig tomorrow morning," said Brad Baird with Tampa Public Works & Utilities. "Starting first thing in the daylight, so that we can do it safely, and then lift that rig up on that barge and get it out of the way and lift it up over that beam that it's hung on."
No one was injured in the incident.
Kennedy Boulevard will remain closed between North Boulevard and Ashley Drive. Drivers are advised to use Cass Street, Brorein Street, Platt Street or the Selmon Expressway as alternates as Kennedy is expected to be closed for the time being.