Part of US-23 near Milan, Michigan is closed after a railroad bridge over the highway was damaged by a truck last month. Speaking on MDOT podcast Talking Transportation, agency bridge engineer Matt Chynoweth said the bridge was built in the 1940s and is owned by the railroad.
“Because a vehicle traveling on US-23 struck the bridge, MDOT is responsible for the repairs,” Chynoweth said.
The railroad bridge was damaged when a truck that was too high to have clearance went under it.
“We received calculations from the railroad that showed some capacity issues that MDOT would never find acceptable. That further validated our decision to close the roadway below.”
Chynoweth says it’s important truck drivers plan their routes and obtain permits for oversize loads. In Michigan, a permit is required for objects and vehicles at 13 feet, 6 inches or higher. The repairs to the bridge are expected to take until late next week.
