Semi-truck, scraper stuck under Whoop-Up Drive bridge, causing partial road closures

A semi-truck carrying a large piece of construction equipment failed to navigate the height of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge and became stuck.

City of Lethbridge crews, contractors and engineers are continuing to inspect the bottom of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge after a semi-truck hauling a scraper hit it and became stuck Wednesday morning.

The incident happened around 9:30 a.m.

The semi-truck carrying a Caterpillar scraper got wedged under the bridge, causing damage to both the machine and the structural truss of the bridge.

A large dent could be seen under the bridge, along with drag marks.

City crews, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services, Lethbridge police and engineers spent most of the day assessing the situation and coming up with a plan on how to remove the truck without causing further damage to the bridge.

Because of the large dent, Whoop-Up Drive was shut down in both directions for several hours before partially reopening around noon.

As of this afternoon, two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane—the off-ramp at south Scenic Drive onto Whoop-Up Drive—are open.

The heavy-duty construction machine involved is used for earthmoving.

They can weigh nearly 120,000 pounds.

The incident comes as the city completes phase two of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge rehabilitation project, which has already caused significant lane closures and delays.

Lethbridge police say investigation is ongoing, and whether charges will be laid against the driver or company is not known at this time.