ORLANDO, Fla. — A trellis on Interstate 4 stopped traffic Tuesday in downtown Orlando as construction crews tried to remove it, the Florida Department of Transportation said.
Officials said crews were trying to use a crane to remove the large metal trellis that held traffic signs to make way for new eastward lanes, but the crews didn't properly hook the trellis to the crane and they had to set it down on the interstate, resulting in a longer-than-expected closure, officials said.
Officials said both directions of I-4 were closed from West Colonial Drive to West South Street.
I-4 shutdown in both directions. Also—Garland is shutdown (the lanes that run parallel to westbound lanes). Crews still moving sign beam. pic.twitter.com/jEWM8w84vH
— Ty Russell (@TRussellCBS4) October 3, 2017
Project spokesman David Parks said officials will learn from the incident.
"Any time you have something like this that occurs, you take a look at it and consider it for best practices next time," Parks said. "Take a look and say, 'What can we do to stop this from happening again?'"
No one was injured. Both directions of the interstate were reopened by 6:30 a.m.
BREAKING: this beam should not be here blocking both directions of I-4 in downtown. I-4 closed both directions pic.twitter.com/tvyzjjlzeG
— WFTV Traffic (@WFTVTraffic) October 3, 2017
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Minutes later, a garbage truck caught fire, snarling traffic on I-4 between the Beachline and Central Florida Parkway.
A tractor-trailer overturned on I-4 near State Road 408, spilling 6,000 pounds of coconut oil Monday morning.
The crash blocked the interstate, flooding West Colonial Drive, Edgewater Drive and North Mills Avenue with drivers. The cleanup extended into late Tuesday morning.
Cox Media Group
