Delays expected for several months after truck crashes into overpass on I-93 in Medford

MEDFORD, Mass. — Repair work is continuing Tuesday morning after a tractor-trailer struck the Roosevelt Circle overpass on I-93 southbound in Medford Monday afternoon.

>> Boston 25 News traffic reporter Catherine Parrotta is helping you get around the delays on Boston 25 Morning News.

“Our first priority is to safely stabilize the structure, which is underway,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “Drivers are urged to avoid the area and consider public transportation options until I-93 southbound can be fully reopened. Travelers who use Roosevelt Circle should expect restricted lanes for several months until permanent repairs can be made.”

Traffic backed up Tuesday after the crash near Exit 24.

A Boston 25 News viewer sent us a cell phone video where you can see significant damage to the bridge from below.

Crews spent hours cleaning up the mess, and now two lanes on 93 south remain closed as they inspect and repair the bridge overnight.

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Massachusetts State Police told Boston 25 the truck involved in the crash was a 2013 Peterbilt 367 with an Alabama registration, owned by Dove Transportation of Lincoln, Alabama.

Dave Procopio, the spokesperson for MSP, added that the truck driver was a 57-year-old Alabama man, traveling with a 54-year-old Alabama woman as a passenger. The passenger was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with possible minor injuries following the incident.

MassDOT announced on Tuesday that commuters should expect delays traveling on Route 1 south, Route 16, Route 28, and through Roosevelt Circle on Tuesday and for the next several months as the bridge carrying Roosevelt Circle traffic will not be fully reopened due to permanent repairs.

“This is my commute right here, I take the highway right there, I get my groceries down the road. My day is just going to be sitting in traffic,” said Nick Peloquin, who lives nearby.

Neighbors aren’t happy about the additional traffic with those closures going into Tuesday. Mass State Police said there were no injuries from the crash, but there was significant damage to the bridge, so you can expect delays well into the morning commute as lanes remain shut down.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced Monday night that a maximum of two travel lanes will be open on the southbound side of the highway in Medford Tuesday morning.

“An inspection by MassDOT this evening found damage is extensive to an outside beam on the Roosevelt Circle Eastbound Overpass over the right two I-93 southbound travel lanes. The beam will need to be removed to safely allow traffic to be fully restored underneath on I-93 southbound,” MassDOT said in a release Monday. “The entire beam and a section of the bridge deck, approximately 7 feet wide, will need to be demolished between the west abutment and the center pier, located above I-93 southbound lanes of travel.

MassDOT is working with Massachusetts State Police and intends to hold the trucking company legally and financially responsible for damages.

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