The southbound lanes of the I-190 bridge damaged earlier this month aren’t expected to reopen until mid-December, according to state Department of Transportation officials.
“The New York State Department of Transportation has been working diligently to expedite the safe, partial reopening of the bridge carrying Interstate 190 southbound over Niagara Falls Boulevard,” said NYSDOT Region 5 Director Eric Meka.
The structure was damaged Nov. 13 when a commercial truck hauling a shipping container struck the overpass, affecting the steel girders. State DOT crews have already made significant progress on initial repairs, Meka noted.
Beginning Saturday, roving lane closures will be in place on Niagara Falls Boulevard, in the vicinity of the bridge, to facilitate the installation of additional reinforcements.
Meka said DOT officials anticipate reopening a single lane of traffic on the bridge around mid-December. However, he cautioned, safety always remains the first consideration.
“The department will continue to keep the public informed on progress,” Meka said.