Authorities plan to open Georgia Interstate 16 next week after demolishing the damaged overpass bridge

In a new update, the Georgia Department of Transportation on Friday said that they have demolished a badly damaged bridge over Georgia Interstate 16. The authorities plan to reopen the road next week after the debris are hauled away. 

The Interstate which connects Georgia to its coastline was closed when a tractor-trailer crash knocked the overpass bridge from its support beams on Thursday. According to the authorities, the safest way to reopen the interstate was to demolish the damaged bridge. 

Russell McMurry, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation, told the Associated Press that they plan to open one of the westbound lanes — Savannah to Macon by Sunday and the eastbound lanes by Monday. 

Interstate 16 is used to travel from Atlanta to Macon and to Savannah and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.