(Armstrong)– A railroad overpass on Highway 9 just west of Armstrong sustained heavy structural damage after being struck twice within a few days, forcing temporary closures of the roadway in that area. Officials say the trestle was knocked off its foundation both times.
Emmet County Sheriff Mike Martens says both incidents involved semi tractors pulling field cultivators exceeding the 14-foot height restrictions. He says the first incident happened Monday, April 24th; the other took place this past Friday. Martens says crews with the Union Pacific Railroad repaired the structure following the incident last Monday. He says crews with the railroad are back on the scene today (Mon.) to repair the damage from Friday’s incident.
Martens says crews had to work six hours following the incident April 24th to remove the cultivator and they spent another four hours this past Friday after the latest incident. In both cases the cultivator became wedged under the trestle. Martens says traffic had to re-routed for 11 hours on the 24th; and that traffic is still be re-routed around the scene following the most recent incident on Friday.
Martens is reminding everyone to obey road markings and clearances when moving large equipment.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
