Overview
- A transported piece of construction equipment hit the underside of the County Road 87 bridge over I-65 near Exit 234, causing significant damage, a partial collapse and injuries to two people.
- The strike that hit the CR-87 bridge on Tuesday left concrete and pavement on the roadway and forced closure of southbound I-65 between about mile markers 234–238 while crews clear debris.
- One person was reported in critical condition and another was injured, and about three to four vehicles were damaged, with a heavily damaged sedan observed at the scene.
- ALDOT has teams on site conducting structural evaluations and says the interstate will reopen only when it is safe; officials have not set a timetable or confirmed any link to the nearby I-65 widening project.
- The closures produced long traffic backups and local detours that affected neighborhood roads and school bus schedules, and motorists should expect delays near Alabaster and Calera while the investigation and repairs continue.