Southfield Freeway Reopens Following Collapse Of Pedestrian Bridge
DETROIT (WWJ) -- The Southfield Freeway is back open north and south, between I-96 and Joy Road, after a truck collided with a pedestrian overpass causing it to block both sides of the freeway, but all the work is not yet complete.
MDOT Spokesperson Diane Cross said that a bridge replacement could be expedited because the Cathedral pedestrian overpass is a well-utilized foot bridge by area residents, including students making their way to and from Cody High School just west of the freeway.
"We still have work to do out here because the side ramps are going to have to come out as well, but because they don't affect the freeway, we'll end up doing this at a later time," Cross said. "Whether or not that's later this weekend or another day, because obviously that's still an unsafe situation we don't want people walking on those. But, those will not be able to come down today."
Crews have cleaned up the debris along the freeway following an accident on Friday when a truck smashed into a pedestrian bridge causing the bridge to come crashing down across both sides.
"It really is too early to say what the plan will be," Cross said. "Obviously, our folks in Lansing will be looking into this. While we did have it in the plans for a few years from now to reexamine this bridge and see whether or not it needed to be replaced, but obviously losing this pedestrian bridge in a neighborhood that needs a pedestrian bridge, we're going to have to be looking at that, but it's too early to see what those plans may be."
The driver, a man in his 40s, was taken to the hospital by EMS and later pronounced dead, according to Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw.
In a bizarre twist, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was on the scene mingling with observers after his car was stopped by the bridge collapse.
One of Detroit's biggest sports stars was quickly — and safely — picked up by a member of the team's security, a spokesman confirmed, saying Stafford was uninjured.
The semi's driver was reportedly injured and taken away from the scene by EMS. State Police Lieutenant Mike Shaw said they're working with MDOT determine exactly what happened.