Indiana Department of Transportation crews replaced the same section of guardrail on Interstate 69 twice Thursday following two separate truck mishaps.
Both repairs were made in a construction zone at the 230 mile marker of I-69 northbound.
The first occurred shortly after 7 a.m. when a tractor-trailer jackknifed and blocked both lanes, according to a statement from the state police. A car was also pinned against the concrete barrier wall in the left lane. No injuries were reported.
The second occurred at about 6:15 p.m., just two hours after normal traffic flow had been restored following the first mishap.
Troopers say a tanker truck slid off the highway and onto its side off the right side of the road, with the newly repaired guardrail destroyed for the second time in one day. Again, there were no injuries.
“Entering the construction zone the signs clearly state that trucks are to use the left lane,” said Master Trooper Ron Huff. “If they use the right lane, and get their right tires off onto the soft berm, it simply pulls the truck off the road into the guardrail. Most of these incidents could’ve been prevented had the truck drivers simply followed the signs and used the left lane.”
The construction zone, which runs from around the 226 mm to the 234 mm, is due to reopen lanes and shut down work for the winter later this month.