Motorists passing through Thornton may soon experience some traffic delays while the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) works to repair sections of the East 88th Avenue overpass at Interstate 25 damaged last month in a rush-hour accident.
The accident occurred at about 2:31 p.m. July 17 when two semitrailers carrying oversized loads struck one of the 88th Avenue overpass beams. Thornton Police Department spokesman Matt Barnes said both trailers were carrying asphalt silos. No injuries were reported and no other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The accident snarled traffic for hours along I-25 and East 88th Avenue as CDOT crews inspected the damaged overpass. The impact of the accident moved one of the overpass’ steel roadway girders about 26 inches, separating some of the steel bolts that hold the support beams to the roadway, city of Thornton spokesman Todd Barnes said at the time.
Work on the roadway is expected to start sometime this week, according to CDOT public relations director Stacey Stegman.
She said the trucking company that owns the semitrailers involved in the accident will be held responsible for paying the $575,000 in CDOT-contracted work needed to repair the overpass, and an estimated $25,000 more for traffic control and road design work.
Stegman estimated the construction project should take two and a half months to complete.
She said most of the construction work will take place between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, and unspecified evening hours during the weekend, which may result in lane closures on Interstate 25 and the 88th Avenue overpass. Stegman did not specify when these proposed closures might take place.
The outer westbound lane of 88th Avenue will remain closed for the next several months while construction work is done.
Thornton Police Department Sgt. Matt Kandt said no charges have been filed against either of the drivers. The case has been turned over to CDOT for any further investigation.