Bridge over I-15 near Shelley closed until further notice following crash
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SHELLEY – A bridge near Shelley is closed until further notice after a truck driving underneath it caused some damage Monday morning.
A little after 10 a.m., Lt. Marvin Crain with Idaho State Police tells EastIdahoNews.com a semi-truck hauling a track hoe with the boom raised hit a girder on the East 1500 North Bridge over Interstate 15.
“It rattled the load a little bit loose, and the operators got out, tied it back down and then we made contact with them on Foote Drive (in Idaho Falls),” Crain says.
No one was hurt. Interstate traffic was reduced to one lane for a short period of time following the incident so ISP could clean up the debris.
Justin Smith, a spokesman for the Idaho Transportation Department, explains the girder is the main support structure for the bridge. It runs the length of the bridge and transfers the weight to the pylons above.
The damage is significant, he says, and will take time to repair.
“The re-bar is pretty well shredded. Our bridge crew will have to come in and take a look at it and determine whether or not the girder has to be replaced,” Smith says. “If it does, it could be a significant amount of time.”
The concern is that more debris could fall on the highway, which would further weaken the structure of the bridge. That’s the reason the bridge is closed.
But it’s not yet clear how long the closure will remain in effect.
“Our bridge crew will be out Wednesday to take a look at it. They’re from Boise. Once they take a look at it, we’ll have a better idea about when the bridge can be repaired,” says Smith.
Until then, traffic is being rerouted to South 45th West near Love’s Truck Stop. For the majority of drivers, Smith says the detour will only add a few minutes of travel time.
“We want everyone to be safe,” he says. “Those carrying cargo need to make sure they have a good idea of what their height limit is.”