ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — The over-sized load that damaged a bridge over US-131 in northern Allegan County hit several other bridges before the final strike that dislodged the load and closed down the freeway.
A spokesperson with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) told FOX 17 they believe the semi truck hit a number of other bridges while traveling south on US-131 before ultimately striking the 146th Avenue overpass.
"Eyewitnesses say he hit two bridges, and I am six which have an under clearance of above 16 feet. And then the bridge he did hit has a clearance of 14 two," John Richard, with MDOT said.
The damage forced the shutdown of southbound US 131, that does not come at a good time for the department.
"We're in a funding crisis. We're fixing stuff that's old, right? We don't need bridges to get whacked. And apparently this is one of the worst bridge hits ever. Usually a bridge hit takes out one beam. This took out three beams," Richard said.
MDOT says damage to the bridge beams is already being worked on, with hopes to have US 131 reopened by Friday afternoon in time for the Labor Day weekend.
"It backs, it backs up way past, like Culvers, and to Clyde Park," said Joe Collins, a J&H Family stores manager.
WATCH: Video shows aftermath of overpass impact
The impact with the bridge happened just after 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the MDOT. The 14-foot, 2-inch high bridge was likely just the last victim of the over-sized load. Some of the other, unidentified bridges have a height of more than 16 feet.
Pictures sent to FOX 17 show several of the I-beams on the 146th Avenue overpass were cracked and damaged from the force of the impact. An unidentified object lay under the overpass.
Southbound US-131 and 146th Avenue will remain closed until the damaged beams can be removed. The hope is to have that work done by Friday afternoon so the freeway will be open for the Labor Day weekend, per a MDOT spokesperson.
The current closure on US-131 South starts at 84th Street in Kent County. On-ramps at 84th Street and 100th Street are closed.
Drivers are being detoured to either Clyde Park Avenue or Division Avenue, taking the surface streets for miles south to 142nd Avenue, the first open on-ramp to South US-131.
But accidents continue to pile on in the area, with added traffic in Byron Center, which already has closures due to construction at the on ramps from 84th street to 100th street.
"People are crashing into each other, left and right, every day, all night. It doesn't matter if it's raining, sunny, windy, it doesn't seem to matter," said John Richard with MDOT.
One accident occurred earlier this morning on Division Avenue between 92nd and 100th streets — one of the main detour routes for the US 131 construction. With a second crash happened at Clyde Park at 100th Street.
For workers in the area, the construction detours have caused significant delays. Marcy Kuempell, a manager for J&H Family stores said they arrived at 6:30 a.m. and traffic was already backed up.
"It usually takes me not that long to get here from Clyde Park. It took me 10 minutes, and we aren't even that far from Clyde Park," Kuempell said. "This is our business, this is our livelihood, you know. And so if that slows down, you know, what is it going to be like for us?"
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