Part of I-16 closed until next week after trailer slams into bridge east of Macon
A portion of Interstate 16 was shut down indefinitely Thursday after a “dump trailer” truck struck the Ga. 86 bridge northeast of Soperton, about 78 miles east of Macon.
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) officials said the impact shifted the overpass nearly 6 feet.
The bridge spans the freeway, the state’s main east-west route between Macon and Savannah, in a rural area between Swainsboro and Soperton.
Details of the incident were not immediately available, but a photograph from the scene showed the trailer, its bottom on the interstate below, leaning on the overpass.
GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said in a press conference Thursday the fastest way to reopen I-16 is to demolish the existing bridge beams and deck portions over the highway. Demolition was being prepped Thursday afternoon.
McMurry said the plan is to open one lane westbound from Savannah to Macon by Sunday morning and then open one eastbound lane Monday.
“We expect a full reopening of I-16 by mid-to-late next week,” he said.
GDOT does not have a timeframe to replace the bridge.
A 7-mile detour was noted as follows:
- For travelers going westbound from Savannah toward Macon — Take Exit 78 and turn right onto Ga. 221 north. Then go left onto U.S. 80 west. Go through the town Adrian and then left onto Ga. 15, re-entering I-16 at Exit 71.
- For travelers headed eastbound from Macon to Savannah — Take Exit 71 and turn right onto Ga. 15. Go through Soperton and turn left onto Ga. 46 and the left onto Ga. 56, re-entering I-16 at Exit 78.
This story was originally published July 15, 2021 at 9:47 AM.