A large object fell onto the Dallas North Tollway Thursday evening, blocking all southbound lanes during the post-work rush hour.
The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to a single-vehicle incident around 5 p.m. involving a truck-tractor semi-trailer near the Galleria Dallas mall. The vehicle struck the Interstate 635 bridge, causing it to lose its load and shut down the tollway for hours.
No injuries were sustained as a result of the collision.
Texas DPS documents state the object blocking the road was an industrial-sized oven, weighing about 34,000 pounds. Emergency crews were able to clear the scene, and the lanes reopened late Thursday evening.
A portion of the bridge beam was damaged, said Michael Rey, media relations manager for the North Texas Toll Authority.
“The bridge remains structurally sound. However, as a precaution, we will keep the westbound lane of the bridge over Dallas North Tollway closed to traffic until repairs are completed,” Rey said.
The toll authority is developing repair plans but a timeline was disclosed. Continuous closures of the westbound I-635 service road between northbound Dallas Parkway and southbound Inwood Road are underway.
These closures are to assess and complete necessary repairs caused by the accident. Message boards will be placed nearby to alert motorists driving in the area.