Texas bridge shut down due to multiple holes after semi loses wind turbine component
Texas transportation officials are warning drivers that it could take several weeks to months to repair major structural damage to a bridge that was caused by a truck mishap.
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Friday, March 25, in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), an “18-wheeler hauling a wind turbine component lost its cargo on Northbound I-44 on top of the 6th Street overpass.” Authorities did not provide information on why the component fell off the truck’s trailer.
According to TxDOT, the incident caused “massive structural damage to the bridge deck,” including “sizeable holes.”
“TxDOT is working on an emergency contract to repair the damage and restore traffic to its original configuration. Repairs could take several weeks to months to finish,” TxDOT officials said.
See TxDOT road closures for the incident below:
Here are the CLOSURES associated with the damage to the NB I-44 6th st. overpass.
- The NB US 287/281 Elevated Freeway is CLOSED to all traffic.
- All NB vehicles will detour at Broad Street and drive below the freeway for 7 blocks to re-enter at 8th Street.
- Motorists re-entering the highway will be restricted to the 2 right lanes until North of the 6th Street overpass.
- The City of Wichita Falls’ Traffic Department is monitoring and adjusting signal timing to ensure smooth traffic flow on Broad Street.
- Meanwhile all EB US 82/Kell Fwy traffic is detoured to the Broad Street exit ramp.
- Both EB US 82/Kell “Flyovers” to NB I-44/US 287 and to SB US 287 are CLOSED. Detours are in place for both directions.
- 6th Street is CLOSED (underneath the overpass) between BU 277A/Old Seymour Highway and Broad Street. This CLOSURE is part of the delays to an ongoing project in Southeast Wichita Falls on SB & NB US287.
- As a reminder, the existing lane closures for NB/SB US 287 remain in place at Holliday Creek and Old Jacksboro Highway. NB US 281 will remain detoured onto the US 287 NB frontage road. This final item is part of a preventative maintenance project that started the end of January and has nothing to do with last night’s wreck. Residents are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and find a safe alternative way around the area.