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Parts Of Damaged Overpass Will Be Removed

Bob East III / Hernando Today

This dump truck severely damaged the overpass.

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TBO.com

Published: December 9, 2008

Updated: 12/09/2008 10:14 pm

Portions of the southbound Interstate 75 overpass at Exit 301 in Hernando County damaged by a dump truck earlier today will be removed tonight, Florida Department of Transportation officials say.

One lane of southbound I-75 was reopened at 4:05 p.m. after the crash closed down the highway for more than two hours, department spokeswoman Kristen Carson said in a statement.

The eastbound lanes of State Road 50 remain closed. One lane of westbound S.R. 50 is being used for eastbound traffic. The northbound ramp to westbound S.R. 50 is still partially closed.

A 1991 Mack dump truck driven by William J. Lindsay, 56, of Brooksville, was going east on S.R. 50 at 1:28 p.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The raised bed of the truck crashed into the concrete beams that support the overpass, highway patrol spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a statement.

Chunks of concrete and reinforcement bars fell onto S.R. 50, but no vehicles were hit by the debris, Gaskins said. Lindsay was not hurt.

A temporary barrier will be installed Wednesday and Thursday on southbound I-75, Carson said. All southbound lanes of the highway are expected to be open Thursday, she said.

All lanes of S.R. 50 will reopen once the demolition and repair of the damaged sections are complete. Engineers say it will take at least three weeks for S.R. 50 to reopen, according to the highway patrol.

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