Both directions of state Highway 114 are shut down after an 18-wheeler crashed into a bridge Wednesday morning, moving the train and tracks overhead.
Officials say 114 is closed in both directions at Farm-to-Market Road 156 until further notice, and may remain closed between 36 hours and 30 days (worst case scenario). In the meantime, traffic is being diverted through property owned by Texas Motor Speedway and the Northwest Independent School Distrct.
A contingency plan is being developed for managing traffic during this weekend's race at TMS.
The 18-wheeler was traveling westbound on 114 when it struck the bridge support near FM 156, west of Texas Motor Speedway at about 4:30 a.m.
The crash impacted the train tracks over the roadway. Images from Chopper 5 showed the tracks had been damaged and moved from their original location.
Large metal rebar, to be used in a local road construction project, fell off the 18-wheeler and into the road. The rebar blocked the road until about 9:00 a.m., when it was removed.
BNSF Railway is inspecting the damage and trains are on hold until further notice.
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"We have about 40 trains a day that use this route," BNSF spokesman Joe Faust said. "They'll be on hold or rerouted."
Faust said there was no direct damage to the train that was sitting on the bridge when the crash happened.
BNSF engineers are keeping the roadway closed until they can determine the stability of the beams that were damaged. Heavy equipment will have to be brought in to repair the tracks, Faust said.
