I-70 westbound lane closed through Thursday at Sorrels Overpass; MoDOT to rehabilitate overpass sooner than expected
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Transportation said Tuesday it will rehabilitate the Sorrels Overpass sooner than originally planned due to the damage caused by a truck that crashed into the bottom of the bridge Monday. The work will also create 15 feet of clearance for tall vehicles.
The westbound lanes of Interstate 70 will remain closed through Thursday while MoDOT crews make the overpass secure.
The driver of the truck that hit the bridge, a 51-year-old Boonville man, suffered serious injuries in the crash but a University Hospital spokesman said Tuesday that he was in good condition. Concrete falling from the overpass hit another vehicle but that driver was not injured, the highway patrol reported.
The Missouri Department of Transportation had been planning to rebuild the Sorrels Overpass in 2022. Monday's crash moved up that timeline.
Before the crash on Monday, MoDOT had already rated the Sorrels Overpass in poor condition. Bridges are rated on a nine-point scale, with 9 being a new bridge and 2 being a closed bridge. Missouri’s poor bridges carry a rating of 4 or less.
Assistant Central Engineer Randy Aulbur said the bridge is not safe to be driven on after the crash.
“Our first priority at this time is to restore the safe usage of both lanes of westbound Interstate 70," Aulbur said.
The girders and bridge were originally going to be rehabilitated in 2022 to extend the life of the overpass by about 30 years.
Watch a MoDOT news conference replay in the player below.
“In light of these circumstances, we are moving forward with this project earlier than planned, however it will still take some time for all those details to be finalized," Aulbur said. "We appreciate the patience of those who use the bridge on a regular basis.”
The ramp from Stadium Boulevard to westbound Interstate 70 was closed Tuesday as contractors prepared to tear down a damaged overpass just west of Columbia.
MoDOT announced the closure a little after noon in a tweet. The closure was needed to reduce traffic heading west toward the area of Sorrels Overpass, the agency said. The overpass was damaged when a tractor-trailer hit it Monday and MoDOT plans to have it demolished.
Authorities had to shut down westbound I-70 at the overpass briefly Monday, then opened one lane. The closures caused extensive backups. A traffic camera at the Stadium Boulevard ramp showed slow, backed-up traffic continuing at about 1 p.m. Tuesday.
