MONROE - The state Department of Transportation will heat the I-beam on the Wisconsin 59 overpass to bend it back into place after a semitruck hit the I-beam on Jan. 19.
The "over-sized load" the semitruck was hauling compacted against the bottom of the bridge and bent an I-beam back about 6 to 8 inches, according to Green County Highway Commissioner Jeff Wunschel. Orange flags were set up on the southbound lane of Wis. 59 because the accident weakened the load capacity of the bridge, Wunschel said.
"It could have been a lot worse," he said.
Wunschel said he did not know when the state would get repairs done, but DOT officials were inspecting the bridge Friday to assess the damage.
"It's a state structure, so they're qualified to do that, and then I guess they'll settle up with the hauler," Wunschel said.
Wunschel said the structure won't be significantly weakened by bending the I-beam back into place.
No one was injured in the Jan. 19 accident, but the aluminum trailer was completely destroyed. Lynn Ray Overton, 51, Houston-Harris, Texas, was the driver of the semi.
- Tom Holm
The "over-sized load" the semitruck was hauling compacted against the bottom of the bridge and bent an I-beam back about 6 to 8 inches, according to Green County Highway Commissioner Jeff Wunschel. Orange flags were set up on the southbound lane of Wis. 59 because the accident weakened the load capacity of the bridge, Wunschel said.
"It could have been a lot worse," he said.
Wunschel said he did not know when the state would get repairs done, but DOT officials were inspecting the bridge Friday to assess the damage.
"It's a state structure, so they're qualified to do that, and then I guess they'll settle up with the hauler," Wunschel said.
Wunschel said the structure won't be significantly weakened by bending the I-beam back into place.
No one was injured in the Jan. 19 accident, but the aluminum trailer was completely destroyed. Lynn Ray Overton, 51, Houston-Harris, Texas, was the driver of the semi.
- Tom Holm