Two closures and a passing

First, the 150-year-old Roebling Bridge at Cincinnati is closed for several weeks for repairs.

Today this word came from the Huntington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

Effective immediately, the Ohio River is closed to mariners at the Belleville Locks and Dam, Ohio River, mile 203.9. This unexpected closure is due to a hydraulic line failure in the main chamber. The auxiliary chamber is being prepared to open and will be available sometime this evening. The main lock chamber at Belleville will remain closed for repairs. The duration of the repair work is undetermined at this time.

And on a sad note, one of the survivors of the Silver Bridge collapse has died in North Carolina. From the Point Pleasant River Museum and Learning Center:

Our hearts were broken as we learned of the passing of our dear friend Mr. William Edmondson. We got to know and spend time with Mr. Edmondson and his family when he visited the Point Pleasant River Museum and later during the 50th Remembrance of the Collapse of the Silver Bridge. Bill was a Hennis truck driver, one of 5 people who fell into the Ohio River and survived when the Silver Bridge collapsed on Dec. 15, 1967. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Edmondson family during this time.

I and others met Edmondson after the ceremony. Of course he was swarmed by reporters with cameras and voice recorders afterwards. He patiently told his story and answered questions from us media jackals.