‘Hi-load’ truck hit pedestrian bridge, caused collapse, MDOT says
Michigan authorities are asking drivers to seek alternate routes after a pedestrian bridge collapsed onto a busy interstate Friday morning.
The incident occurred around 5:20 a.m. on March 27 when the Townsend Pedestrian Bridge near Van Dyke Avenue in Detroit collapsed onto westbound I-94.
No injuries were reported.
Reminder-EB&WB 94 CLOSED, 75 to M-3/Gratiot for ped bridge demo from earlier crash when hi-load truck hit bridge. pic.twitter.com/d8ml8BoaXp
— MDOT – Metro Detroit (@MDOT_MetroDet) March 27, 2020
While Michigan State Troopers are still investigating the cause of the bridge collapse, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) tweeted that a “hi-load” truck struck the bridge.
MDOT has brought in heavy equipment to remove and demolish the collapsed bridge.
Ped bridge over 94 near Van Dyke coming down. pic.twitter.com/tqcSDhBb4Q
— MDOT – Metro Detroit (@MDOT_MetroDet) March 27, 2020
Both eastbound and westbound I-94 are closed for the removal of the bridge. MDOT hopes to have the interstate reopened for the afternoon rush hour.
It will cost about $86,000 to demolish the bridge. There are no plans to replace the bridge as it was already set to be removed within the next few years as part of the I-94 Modernization project.