ALEX MARIE

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Longliner swept against bridge

Traffic on the Grayden Paul Bridge was reduced to a single lane on Feb 18, 2013, after the "Alex Marie" was swept against the construction in high winds and strong currents hitting the south side of the span. Police closed the bridge shortly afterward to traffic, allowing only emergency vehicles. The N.C. Department of Transportation upon initial inspection expected that damage appeared to be just superficial, not structural. Vehicle traffic was reduced on Feb 17 to a 10-foot lane in each direction to give inspectors room to work. N.C. Department of Transportation crews proceeded from the Swansboro area to check the bridge for any damage. Crews continued to assess damage - including missing concrete - incurred in the incident. On Feb 18, traffic was restricted to a single lane. The work should only take a couple hours to complete. The drawbridge will continue to open every hour as needed. The "Alex Marie" was headed south for swordfishing at Sea Mounds in the Bahamas. The Crew had tied it up at the Smith Docks at the east end of the Beaufort-Morhead City causeway. But the piling gave way and the ship wedged against the bridge at 10 p.m. in a storm. The vessel was secured a little farther south at those docks after it could be freed when the tide turned. The longliner didn't appear to have sustained damage. Report with photo: http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_3f64ada4-78b7-11e2-96eb-001a4bcf887a.html