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According to Heidi Coy of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), VDOT inspectors found several damaged beams to the I-81 southbound bridge that crosses over Route 611 (Newbern Road). The repairs could take several weeks.

Route 611 (Newbern Road) in Pulaski County has re-opened to through traffic.  Route 611 was temporarily closed near Route 643 (Cougar Trail) on Tuesday after an overheight vehicle struck the Interstate-81 bridge over Route 611.  

Crews have installed a cover under the damaged bridge beams, which has reduced the height limit on Route 611 under the I-81 bridge to 13 feet, five inches.

“We are doing some paving work today on the right shoulder of I-81 in the area of the 97 mile marker in order to have both the right lane and the right shoulder open for traffic,” said Coy. “We are hoping that this will help relieve congestion in that area.”

Coy did add that the left southbound lane will remain closed for a still undetermined amount of time and that motorists should expect delays.

“We are asking motorists to avoid that area of I-81 this Labor Day Weekend,” said Sgt. Dirk Compton of the Virginia State Police. “Traffic will be extremely heavy as it is and the closing of the one lane will only make it even more congested.”

According to Sgt. Compton, the accident, which caused the road closure, occurred around 9:12 a.m. It involved a 2002 Volvo garbage truck, which belonged to the Pulaski County Public Service Authority (PSA), and a 2003 Ford Expedition.

The investigation showed that the driver of the county PSA truck, Samuel Ryan, was traveling on Newbern Road when the lift boom on his vehicle struck the bridge. According to the police report, Ryan had left the lift boom up on his truck. 

A second vehicle, a 2003 Ford Expedition, which was operated by Joyce Hurst of Dublin, was also involved, though that was not indicated in the initial report.

Ryan was the only person to be injured and he was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to Sgt. Compton, the accident is still under investigation by Trooper M.K. Blevins, and no charges have been filed as of yet.

Photo courtesy of VDOT

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