Hwy. 287 reopens after crews demolish damaged overpass
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Highway 287 delays expected to last days after crash
A garbage truck driver died after hitting an overpass on Southbound Highway 287 and Erath St. in Fort Worth. Delays are expected to last for several days.
FORT WORTH, Texas - U.S. Highway 287 is back open in Fort Worth after a fatal crash that severely damaged an overpass.
What's new:
Texas Department of Transportation crews were able to completely remove the damaged bridge support and part of the Erath Street overpass overnight.
All lanes on the northbound side are now open and one lane on the southbound side is getting through.
Crews are still doing cleanup on the southbound side, but at least some lanes are now open. That should help clear out the backup that started building early Friday morning.
The backstory:
The Erath Street bridge was damaged in a fatal crash that happened on Wednesday evening.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, a Waste Management dumpster truck left the roadway and crashed into a bridge support pillar, snapping a concrete support.
One occupant was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene, while a second man was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
The impact forced the closure of U.S. 287 in both directions, routing drivers onto service roads.
US 287 lanes closed in Fort Worth after fatal dumpster truck overpass crash
The impact damaged the overpass, forcing extensive road closures along U.S. 287 that are expected to cause delays for days or weeks.
What's next:
Erath Street is expected to remain closed in that area through October.
Crews will have to rebuild the overpass.
The Source: The information in this story comes from the Texas Department of Transportation and the FOX 4 Traffic team.