A semi-truck slammed into the 11th Street bridge over Interstate 35 in downtown Austin on Tuesday, tangling the evening rush and forcing officials to shut down the main lanes while crews dealt with the mess. Workers stayed on scene through the night to clear wreckage and debris under the overpass so traffic could start moving again.
All lanes of I-35 reopened early Wednesday after cleanup and inspections, according to KVUE. Officials have not yet released information about the driver or whether anyone was hurt.
Where the crash happened and why it matters
The strike happened at the 11th Street crossing of I-35, a freight-heavy stretch that cuts through downtown and links the east and west sides of the city. That bridge and nearby structures are part of TxDOT's I-35 Capital Express Central project, a $4.5 billion overhaul aimed at rebuilding downtown interchanges and bridges to improve safety and traffic flow. Because of the ongoing reconstruction, any closure on the main lanes can throw off commuting patterns and construction schedules, according to TxDOT.
Bridge strikes are a recurring headache
Bridge strikes have long been a problem along this corridor. TxDOT previously installed early-warning sensors and flashing signs to alert overheight trucks to exit before they hit low overpasses. The detectors, placed near 11th Street and other downtown approaches, send alerts to traffic managers and are intended to cut down on lengthy shutdowns, Patch reported.
Austin Police and TxDOT crews stayed at the scene while investigators documented the crash and cleared the roadway. As KVUE noted, the interstate reopened after the overnight cleanup, although drivers were still warned to expect lingering delays near downtown during the morning commute.
