Overnight detours on 66, 29 after bridge collapse

Staff
Published: October 6, 2008

Interstate 66 eastbound at the Haymarket exit will be closed overnight after steel beams on a bridge collapsed at U.S. 29 on Monday afternoon.

A detour near road work at U.S. 29 has also been expanded through the night as crews with cranes try to clean up after the 12:30 p.m. collapse.

A construction worker was injured when the beams came down during a bridge demolition on the I-66 widening project and struck a worker in the head. He escaped serious injury.

The beams fell at the abandoned I-66 eastbound span over U.S. 29. They crashed onto the shoulder of northbound U.S. 29. There was no road damage, transportation officials said.

A witness who was sitting at a stoplight near the scene said a crew was working with two or three cranes when a cable snapped and the bridge collapsed to the ground.

“It didn’t look good,” said Don Upchurch, who immediately dialed 911.

VDOT said drivers should be prepared for delays in the area overnight. The interstate is closed to make room for cranes to help remove the beams.

Motorists traveling eastbound on I-66 will be detoured at Haymarket (Exit 40). Turn right at Route 15, left at Route 55 and left onto northbound Route 29.

Route 29 remains closed in both directions between Heathcote Boulevard and Route 55. Electronic message boards will detour motorists as follows:

Motorists traveling north on Route 29 in Gainesville will be diverted onto I-66 East to the Route 234 Bypass (Exit 44). Turn left onto Balls Ford Road, turn left at Groveton Road and right on Route 29.

Motorists traveling south on Route 29 will turn left at the signal at Heathcote Boulevard onto the ramp to I-66 West/Route 29 South. Stay to the left and follow signs to southbound Route 29.

The roads are expected reopen by morning rush hour.