One of metro Atlanta’s busiest traffic corridors was shut down for more than three hours Wednesday evening after a dump truck crashed into a sign on I-75 North in Cobb County, causing the huge structure to fall across the interstate.
The incident took place around 4:45 p.m. when the dump truck’s driver lost control and the heavy vehicle slammed into the aluminum support structure of the sign near the Canton Road exit, authorities said. The huge structure fell and immediately blocked all northbound lanes of I-75, causing major delays for evening commuters. No injuries were reported, and all lanes were reopened once the debris was cleared just after 8 p.m.
According to Marietta police spokesman Officer Chuck McPhilamy, the dump truck driver was traveling south in a lane that prohibited commercial vehicles, and for “reasons unknown, lost control” and struck the sign attached to the median.
“The sign actually extended the opposite direction and supported large DOT (Department of Transportation) signage for the northbound lanes,” McPhilamy explained. “The structure was so damaged (that) the signs and aluminum tube structure collapsed onto the northbound lanes.”
Marietta police issued a citation to the driver for traveling in a non-commercial lane. McPhilamy said the driver, who was not publicly identified, may face other fees or citations from GDOT.
***UPDATE as of 8:06p: Sign structure removed. All lanes OPEN #ATLTraffic https://t.co/Pwryh88YFi
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) July 13, 2023
Authorities did not say when the collapsed signage would be replaced.
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