A truck struck the Houston Avenue bridge on I-10 for the second time this week.
HOUSTON — For the second time this week, a truck has struck the Houston Avenue bridge at the eastbound lanes of I-10 near downtown, according to Houston police.
The flatbed truck was hauling construction equipment.
Earlier this week, a truck struck the Houston Avenue bridge over I-10, causing the big rig to jackknife and lose its load. Traffic was backed up for over 6 hours.
TxDOT said the bridge is still safe and passable, but repairs will be scheduled later this week.
Because the load was too tall to clear the bridge, officials had to redirect the truck backward to get it off the freeway. That unusual maneuver forced Houston police officers to close all mainlanes of I-10 between I-45 and Taylor Street.
HPD is also directing drivers stuck in the backup to exit the freeway so crews have enough room to move the truck.
In addition, Houston firefighters and HAZMAT crews were called out because hydraulic fluid leaked from the construction equipment.
TxDOT warned that, between the truck redirection and the cleanup, the closure may last throughout the night.
Drivers are urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
Similar accidents at the same bridge have happened dozens of times.
The Houston Avenue bridge is the lowest along this portion of I-10 at 14 feet, 3 inches, TxDOT told KHOU 11 in a previous story. That’s just three inches above the national regulation requirement.
Construction is underway on the I-10/White Oak Bayou project, which will overhaul the entire stretch of I-10 from I-45 to Heights Boulevard.
That will result in, among other things, higher lanes above a detention basin.
Houston Avenue will run under the new I-10 lanes rather than over them. The project will take about four years.
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