Drivers in Montour County faced a traffic mess Monday after a big rig got trapped and shut down part of a road.
Drivers along Route 11 in Danville intending to go south on Route 54 to Riverside were met with an unwelcome sign. Road crews blocked Route 54 with a "bridge closed" sign and detoured traffic miles out of the way after a truck pulling a super load became stuck on Route 54 at the Danville Riverside Bridge.
"Ties up traffic, it was a real mess before. Hopefully they'll get it out, because it really isolates Riverside from the community of Danville if you have an emergency," said Gail Garman of Riverside.
"I just had to spend an extra half hour driving through Catawissa in order just to get to Danville to get my son," said Lori Shultz of Rush Township.
The truck was pulling the base section of a windmill headed from Canada to West Virginia.
Police said the driver became stuck when pulling off Front Street onto Route 54. When the driver tried to reverse, he ended running up on a curb on Front Street and hitting some trees.
Eventually a crane was brought in to pull the rig back onto Front Street.
"This day was a really bad day because we bent the axle and some stuff and tied up the bridge," said driver Michael Marshall. The driver said he had to detour off the major highways and onto the smaller route in Danville because the load stands almost 16 feet high and wouldn't be able to fit underneath the overpasses.
As night fell, the driver set to work on repairing the truck's damaged axle, but he said he has plenty of time. He's not allowed to leave until PennDOT officials can inspect his truck and issue him a new permit.
"I'm hoping to be home by Christmas. Maybe Thanksgiving," said Marshall, laughing.
The Danville police chief said problems with big rigs coming through the borough are becoming a common occurrence.
The chief also said the borough has asked PennDOT not to allow super or oversized loads to pass through Danville.
Drivers along Route 11 in Danville intending to go south on Route 54 to Riverside were met with an unwelcome sign. Road crews blocked Route 54 with a "bridge closed" sign and detoured traffic miles out of the way after a truck pulling a super load became stuck on Route 54 at the Danville Riverside Bridge.
"Ties up traffic, it was a real mess before. Hopefully they'll get it out, because it really isolates Riverside from the community of Danville if you have an emergency," said Gail Garman of Riverside.
"I just had to spend an extra half hour driving through Catawissa in order just to get to Danville to get my son," said Lori Shultz of Rush Township.
The truck was pulling the base section of a windmill headed from Canada to West Virginia.
Police said the driver became stuck when pulling off Front Street onto Route 54. When the driver tried to reverse, he ended running up on a curb on Front Street and hitting some trees.
Eventually a crane was brought in to pull the rig back onto Front Street.
"This day was a really bad day because we bent the axle and some stuff and tied up the bridge," said driver Michael Marshall. The driver said he had to detour off the major highways and onto the smaller route in Danville because the load stands almost 16 feet high and wouldn't be able to fit underneath the overpasses.
As night fell, the driver set to work on repairing the truck's damaged axle, but he said he has plenty of time. He's not allowed to leave until PennDOT officials can inspect his truck and issue him a new permit.
"I'm hoping to be home by Christmas. Maybe Thanksgiving," said Marshall, laughing.
The Danville police chief said problems with big rigs coming through the borough are becoming a common occurrence.
The chief also said the borough has asked PennDOT not to allow super or oversized loads to pass through Danville.
 |
