Elevated road affected by accident reopened to traffic

New Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) — The elevated section of Provincial Road 1 from Sanchong District in New Taipei to Taipei was reopened to traffic Tuesday morning after an accident involving a steel beam.

One of the two-lane sections of the highway was reopened to traffic around 11 a.m. after the obstacles were removed, Sanchong police said.

Read also: Elevated road in New Taipei closed due to serious steel beam accident

Earlier in the day, a massive steel beam fell from a low-loader truck on the elevated section of Provincial Expressway 1 heading toward Taipei in Sanchong district, causing severe traffic congestion and forcing authorities to close the road and divert vehicles.

The steel beam partially broke through the guardrail and damaged parts of the highway after falling from the flatbed trailer that was transporting it.

Although the heavy steel beam did not fall from the elevated road to the ground, debris hit two vehicles parked underneath, police said.

The police also reported that the accident caused damage of about 15 meters and that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol while driving.

Cheng Li-hui (鄭立輝), head of the New Taipei Maintenance Office, said a preliminary assessment of the damaged road showed that the force of the fallen steel beam did not cause any major structural problems.

However, there are holes and exploded steel rods on the affected elevated road, said Cheng. He expects the repair to take about two months.