The part of Interstate 25 between Pueblo and Colorado Springs that has been closed since Sunday due to coal vehicles that crashed onto the freeway after a practice derailed must be utterly open by Thursday, Colorado’s governor mentioned Wednesday.
The southbound lanes reopened Wednesday at about 2 p.m., in keeping with the Colorado State Patrol. The northbound lanes ought to reopen no later than Thursday afternoon, Gov. Jared Polis mentioned after he toured the crash website north of Pueblo.
Nationwide Transportation Security Board investigators mentioned Tuesday preliminary indications recommend a part of the monitor was damaged and the bridge over the interstate collapsed after the practice vehicles derailed.
A 60-year-old truck driver from California was killed within the ensuing crash. No different accidents had been reported.
“Our high precedence is to get the freeway again open so that individuals can proceed touring safely between Colorado Springs and Pueblo, and the remainder of the state,” Polis mentioned. “Although the investigation continues to be ongoing, it stays clear that investments in rail are wanted now greater than ever and Colorado has been working for months to benefit from historic security and rail funding from the federal authorities.”
The derailment occurred Sunday afternoon round 3:30 p.m., and the damaged rail was east of the bridge over I-25, the NTSB mentioned.
Federal investigators are additionally wanting on the adequacy of prior monitor inspections and the situation and upkeep historical past of the bridge. The federal company will launch its preliminary report inside 30 days. A last report may take as much as two years to be accomplished.
