A collision closed part of a major interchange in southeast Edmonton Friday morning and it’s not known when the overpass will reopen after it suffered structural damage.
The crash happened just before 10 a.m. when a semi was exiting Anthony Henday Drive and hit the underside of the Whitemud Drive overpass.
Edmonton police said the northbound semi was attempting to exit the Henday at the Whitemud exit ramp, when the truck — which was carrying an excavator on its trailer — collided with the overpass, causing extensive damage.
The excavator hit several girders on the underside of the bridge, breaking away concrete and exposing rebar.
The pavement on the top of the bridge deck was also pushed up from the underside, photos obtained by Global News revealed.
Parts of the interchange will remain closed for the foreseeable future, police and the province said, including the eastbound Whitemud bridge.
Alberta RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said the excavator can’t be moved until the overpass has been reinforced. He said it’s hoped that process will begin Saturday.
Savinkoff added moving the piece of equipment is going to be a fairly intensive process.
Alberta Transportation said an engineering consultant is conducting an initial assessment for bridge damage. The review and assessment may continue over the weekend.
“Upon completion of initial assessment it will be determined what roads will be open. Any estimate on damages or costs will be made once the assessment of the incident is reviewed,” said a statement from the province, which is responsible for the Henday.
All northbound lanes on Highway 216/Anthony Henday Drive and eastbound lanes on the Whitemud/Township Road 522 were closed during the day, however the Henday later reopened.
The township road east of the city going in to Strathcona County and edits remain closed due to the damage and stuck excavator.
The province said the northbound Henday ramp to westbound Whitemud Drive remains closed, along with the eastbound Whitemud overpass.
The southbound Anthony Henday Drive ramp to eastbound Whitemud drive remains closed.
The Alberta 511 website will be updated if the ramps reopen, the province said.
Both police and the county said the driver was not injured.
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