Major interstate closed while crews work to repair bridge in Southern Colorado, latest details

Pueblo, Colo. (KKTV) -Over the next eight hours, crews will be securing a new railroad bridge in Southern Colorado. The bridge that once stood there, collapsed in October when a train carrying coal derailed. BNSF said it was caused by a broken rail. A truck driver was killed in the crash.

I-25 is shut down in both directions, until 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. While repairs are underway, the Colorado Department of Transportation is urging drivers to use Highway 115 and Highway 50 as a detour.

CDOT and BNSF told 11News that there would be multiple inspection crews on scene Monday night to make sure everything is done right. If everything goes as expected, there could be trains going back over the bridge by Wednesday night.

“They’re pretty confident in their plan. BNSF Railway has been working for a couple of months putting the plan together,” said Amber Shipley, a spokesperson for CDOT Region 2.

The railway’s plan involves taking a new bridge, which was originally designed for a project in Texas, moving it across the interstate on large machines, then welding it in place.

CDOT told 11News that Octobers derailment and bridge collapse was unpredictable.

”It was a freak accident,” said Shipley.

Shipley adds that CDOT inspect bridges across the state on a 24-month period or sooner if the bridge is older and that there will be a lot of eyes on this replacement.

”Every bridge that we go over or under on our highways, our bridge inspectors have a role in that. So, they’ll be on site during the placement. They’ll be doing the inspection before they allow the roadway to be open in the morning,” Shipley added.

BNSF told 11News they will also have inspection crews on scene to monitor work.

“We want to make sure that our public is safe. Our families are traveling under that bridge just like everyone else is, so we want everyone to be safe,” said Shipley when asked about preventing future tragedies.

Again, BNSF and CDOT told 11News they are confident that their repairs will be finished by 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning when the road is expected to be back open for drivers.

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