Update: Part Of Route 81 Overpass May Be Damaged Beyond Repair

Update: A portion of the Interstate 81 - Michael Road overpass may be damaged beyond repair, according to the State Department of Transportation.

DOT spokesman Mike Flick told 7 News Tuesday that two beams, approximately 50 feet long, were bent along their entire length.

Monday morning, a tractor trailer boom struck the overpass, forcing officials to close Michael Road (the road that crosses over Route 81).

Flick said crews might be able to use heat to straighten the beams.

Otherwise, they won’t be able to be repaired.

The overpass had been targeted for replacement in September 2010, he said.

Inspectors determined Monday that “significant” damage had been done to two outward beams and one interior beam.

Flick said information and data has been sent to a DOT engineer in Clinton County.

The engineer is expected to determine whether Michael Road can be reopened to motorists - perhaps allowing alternating one-way traffic.

A load limit would be posted.

Flick said 300 vehicles use the overpass daily.

He said it could take a day or two before engineers decide if the overpass can be reopened.

What follows is our report from Monday:

Bridge inspectors from the State Department of Transportation say an Interstate 81 overpass sustained “significant” damage Monday morning and forced the closure of the span.

State police said 52 year old Harmon Kent of Cato, New York, was operating a flatbed tractor trailer when it struck the Michael Road overpass in Jefferson County town of Adams.

“It was a truck that delivers tires. The boom for the truck which offloads material and stock apparently may have been left up a little too high,” said Director of Emergency Management Glenn Morrison.

A large piece of the boom was torn off, but the driver was not injured.

While the wreckage was towed away, DOT crews began to assess the overpass.

“Based on a ground inspection, three out of five beams have been significantly damaged,” said DOT Regional Bridge Maintenance Engineer Rick Hunkins.

Michael Road, which is on the overpass, is closed to traffic until further notice.

DOT inspectors said the overpass is not in danger of collapsing as long as no weight is put on it.

“We’re not comfortable right now with traffic going on top. Until we can fully assess that, we’re not going to allow traffic on top,” said Hunkins.

He said the inspection could take 24 hours.

For the majority of the day Monday, one lane was closed on Interstate 81 south as bridge inspectors checked the overpass.

Authorities say the span is among six interstate overpasses between Syracuse and Canada that have a 14-foot clearance.

The Michael Road overpass, which has been hit before, was targeted for replacement within the next five years because the new standard for clearance is 16 feet.