UPDATE: Repairs at Kellogg and Seneca could last until Christmas

November 21, 2011|By Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) —

Officials with the Kansas Department of Transportation say repairs to a bridge at Kellogg and Seneca could take at least a month.

Friday afternoon a large truck driving south on Seneca struck the Kellogg bridge, damaging a concrete support. KDOT spokesperson Tom Hein says a contractor will be brought in to fix the bridge, which includes chipping out broken concrete, replacing a beam and putting in new concrete and bridge decking.

Hein says that drivers should look for the southbound lanes of Seneca and and far right lane of westbound Kellogg to remain closed for at least a month. Hein says he is not sure if the city of Wichita will make accomodations so both northbound and southbound traffic can use the northbound lanes of Seneca.

--------------------

Original Story, November 19

An accident Friday afternoon shut down parts of Kellogg and Seneca. The Kansas Department of Transportation says on westbound Kellogg, the right lane is closed, but two lanes remain open.

View Photos from the Scene

Northbound Seneca reopened Friday evening but southbound remains closed. Drivers are urged to take an alternate route.

The closure is needed, while a structural engineer inspects the Kellogg bridge that spans over Seneca. A large truck travelling south on Seneca struck the bridge Friday. The truck had some sort of lift on the back, causing the damage.

"You've seen them going down the highway, they look like big metal containers. He had already dropped that container and was going to pick up another one and that resulted in his lift bed or lift crane being elevated. That's what tore out some power lines heading this way and the bridge stopped him," said Lt. Roger Baughman, Kansas State Patrol.

It could days days before engineers can determine the amount of structural damage the crash caused. The Kellogg lane will remain closed until determined safe.

|

|

|