About 30 vehicles were damaged while traveling on Interstate 91 near mile marker 9 in western Massachusetts on Saturday.
Massachusetts State Police confirmed Saturday that they were assisting “several disabled motorists in the disabled lane.” On Monday, officials said about 30 vehicles were assisted by Massachusetts State Police, rescue trucks and various other tow trucks.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) responded to the scene to assist and determine if an object or debris on the roadway was causing the problem. As of Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation confirmed the problem was caused by bridge seams on the I-91 bridge over the Connecticut River.
The joint was chopped off on Saturday.
Bridge joints allow the bridge to move safely when temperature causes expansion and contraction.
Damage to bridge joints is not uncommon. The Texas Department of Transportation said it was “normal wear and tear” after multiple drivers got flat tires, ABC13 reported. In 2023, a snowplow may have loosened a snowplow in Syracuse. Officials also had to cut away the seams.
David Smith, DOT’s Central New York regional director, told Syracuse.com that cutting the steel does not affect traffic, but it does shorten the life of the bridge joints.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said it will work with contractors on long-term repairs.
People affected by bridge joints can file a claim online. But the website says there is no compensation for property damage, only personal injury, with a limit of $4,000.
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