An excavator being towed behind a truck on Interstate 16 Thursday hit the overpass bridge at Chatham Parkway and the result was major traffic jams well into the evening, as well as continued closures on both roadways throughout this weekend. According to a Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) news release on Thursday, all westbound lanes on I-16 [going out of Savannah] will remain closed through the weekend of July 12-14, pending “removal of three significantly damaged beams.”

I-16 traffic at Chatham Parkway overpass Credit: [FACEBOOK]
The press release was posted to GDOT and Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) social media channels after 8 p.m. on Thursday. Detour routes can be seen in the images below. According to the GDOT website, the incident occurred at 3:31 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Traffic redirect routes at I-16/Chatham Parkway Credit: [GDOT]
“An additional beam is under evaluation after this afternoon’s bridge strike by a vehicle transporting an excavator,” the release said. “Chatham Parkway remains closed in both directions. Georgia DOT anticipates returning I-16 westbound to full service by the morning of Monday, July 15. Chatham Parkway’s reopening is to be determined. The traveling public should avoid the area.”
Traffic redirect routes at I-16/Chatham Parkway Credit: [GDOT]

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This article appears in Connect Savannah I July 2024.

Travis Jaudon is a reporter for Connect Savannah. Reach him with feedback or story tips at 912-721-4358.