I-10 East Freeway reopens after 18-wheeler hits bridge

HOUSTON – A section of Interstate 10 East Freeway that was closed Tuesday morning after an 18-wheeler hit a bridge in Houston’s Fifth Ward has reopened.

The crash was reported about 3:30 a.m. on the westbound side of the freeway near Waco Street.

Only a single lane of traffic on the westbound side was moving by 5:30 a.m. Traffic on the eastbound side of the freeway was slowed by onlookers but was moving in the area. By 7:40 a.m., all westbound lanes had reopened to traffic.

Houston police said the big rig hit the bridge causing concrete and debris from the damage to fall onto the freeway. It appears the driver of the truck did not stop after the crash.

Officials from the Texas Department of Transportation conducted an inspection of the bridge before reopening the area to traffic.

Check real-time traffic conditions anytime at Click2Houston.com/traffic.