Traffic came to a standstill on the Florida Turnpike earlier today after a tractor-trailer carrying an oversize load struck the overpass bridge on US-301 in Sumter County. The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:15 AM, forced the temporary closure of both the northbound and southbound lanes of the Turnpike as a safety precaution.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) confirmed that the tractor-trailer was traveling southbound on US-301 when the collision with the Turnpike overpass occurred. The impact was significant enough to necessitate an immediate evaluation of the structure.
“North and Southbound lanes of the Turnpike were closed while FDOT inspectors evaluated the bridge span,” the FHP report stated.
Engineers from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) were immediately dispatched to the scene to conduct a thorough inspection of the bridge. The closure lasted for nearly two hours, causing substantial traffic backups and delays for Friday commuters.
Bridge Deemed Safe, Traffic Flow Restored
Fortunately, the safety inspection concluded with positive results. The Turnpike was officially reopened at 1:10 PM after FDOT inspectors confirmed the bridge span was structurally sound and deemed safe for travel.
Authorities reported that no injuries resulted from the collision, though the incident is still under investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tractor-trailer’s oversize load contacting the bridge.
Drivers in the area are advised to use caution as residual congestion clears out.
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