Barge breaks free, strikes Ottawa bridge

OTTAWA – Authorities are monitoring the situation in Ottawa after a barge struck a bridge Tuesday.   The flooding of the Illinois River caused a barge upstream to break loose, coming to a rest against the northernmost support of the Veterans Bridge which carries Illinois Route 23.  A number of officials are at the scene, and a helicopter was expected to get a closer look.   Traffic was still being allowed to travel on the bridge.