Semi-truck scrapes bridge underside

The New Glendale Road overpass at Western Kentucky Parkway is reduced to one lane after a commercial vehicle carrying an oversized load scraped the underside of the bridge Monday night.

Neal Cardin

Orange barrels, barricades and temporary traffic signals were put into place Tuesday morning on the New Glendale Road bridge over Western Kentucky Parkway. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet workers are inspecting the bridge to determine damage after a semi-truck hit the underside of the structure Monday night.

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Neal Cardin

Damage from the truck collision can be seen Tuesday morning in a span on the New Glendale Road overpass.

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Neal Cardin

A view of the damage to the New Glendale Road overpass as seen from the Western Kentucky Parkway on Tuesday morning.

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Norman Chaffins, spokesman for Kentucky State Police Post 4, said the truck was eastbound on the parkway at 6:16 p.m. when it crashed into the bridge at the 136-mile marker.

According to Chaffins, the truck’s load was too tall to pass under the overpass. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash, police said.

Typically, commercial vehicles will have paperwork indicating whether they are able to clear an overpass or if they should travel in the left lane as opposed to the right, he said.

“There was no indication in his paperwork,” Chaffins said about the New Glendale Road overpass.

Though Commercial Vehicle Enforcement’s investigation is ongoing, Chaffins said it does not appear at this time police will charge the driver with a violation.

Chris Jessie, spokesman for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 4, said the truck struck one bridge beam but cleared the remaining three.

Structural engineers and bridge inspectors responded early Tuesday morning to assess damage to the bridge, Jessie said.

According to Jessie, officials determined the overpass was safe to operate one lane by opening it to alternating traffic.

By Tuesday afternoon, KTC crews had installed signal lights on the bridge permitting alternating one-way traffic.

All Western Kentucky Parkway lanes are open.

Asked about a timetable for repairs, Jessie said he was unable to comment on a schedule at this time as highway officials were continuing to assess the damage Tuesday.

“They’ll have to make a plan,” he said.

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.