COLUMBUS, Ohio — The portion of Interstate 70 West near downtown Columbus that closed Saturday after a semitrailer crashed into a bridge is now back open.
The Ohio Department of Transportation said that emergency repairs were underway to address damage to the overpass. Previously, ODOT believed the bridge would be closed for a few days after a semi hauling a large excavator truck struck it.
The interstate was originally set to reopen Monday morning, but Columbus police said that due to the quick work of ODOT, they were able to reopen Sunday night.
A contractor utilized a salvaged beam from the recently demolished Front Street bridge to serve as a brace supporting the damaged section of 4th Street, according to ODOT. Additional structural bracing will also be installed under the bridge.
The next round of repairs will be to remove the damaged beam, provide support for a utility duct and reopen another lane of traffic on 4th Street. Temporary pedestrian access will be set up in the most eastern lane of the road.
There will be future closures of I-70 and 4th Street to relocate utilities and make a more permanent repair to the bridge.
ODOT said the 4th Street bridge is scheduled to be replaced and raised as a part of the next phase of construction in ODOT's Downtown Ramp Up project, planned to start later this year.
Police suggested using the following detours until the area reopens:
- I-70 West traffic will be diverted to I-71 North, take I-71 North to 670 West to get back to I-70 West
- I-71 South traffic will be diverted to I-70 East. Take I-70 East to I-270 South to get back to I-71 South
- Please use High Street or South Grant Avenue as an alternate to South 4th Street
- I-70 East is not affected by this closure and will remain open
There were no reported injuries from the crash.