Excavator hits pedestrian overpass on US 54 at Hercules

A pedestrian bridge in Northeast El Paso will remain closed after it was damaged by an excavator transported on a flatbed trailer.

The tractor trailer was heading south on U.S. 54 when it hit the pedestrian bridge between Hondo Pass and Hercules shortly before Noon Tuesday.

Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation told ABC-7 all lanes of traffic heading south on the highway were shut down after the arm of the excavator hit the pedestrian bridge, resulting in large chunks of cement falling onto the highway.

TxDOT is looking into reports the debris damaged some vehicles. It immediately sent engineers from the bridges department to inspect the bridge.

“They examined the bridge and they consulted with our bridge division in Austin and they were given clearance to go ahead and open U.S. 54 to traffic underneath the bridge, but they did close the pedestrian bridge,” said Jennifer Wright, a spokeswoman for TxDOT.

The excavator that hit the pedestrian bridge donned a Tri-State Electric logo on it. ABC-7 asked TxDOT if the responsibility of the accident falls on the company that stowed the excavator or the operator of the truck that was transporting the excavator.

“Typically you would expect operators of vehicles carrying loads like trucks or whatever to be aware of the height that their load is reaching and to pay attention to the corresponding signs on every bridge so that they won’t attempt to pass when their load exceeds the bridge height,” Wright said.

ABC-7 also asked Wright about the height of the bridge — if it was too low for transporting equipment as large as the excavator that caused the damage.

“At 17 feet, over 17 feet, it’s a pretty good height to meet modern standards of bridges,” Wright said.

No injuries were reported. TxDOT could not say when the pedestrian bridge will re-open.

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