Overturned Tractor-Trailer Closes U.S. 35 on Silver Bridge

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A tractor-trailer overturned on the U.S. 35 Silver Bridge connecting Mason County, West Virginia and Gallia County, Ohio, causing the contents and fuel from the truck to spill onto the roadway and into the Ohio River. All lanes of the bridge are currently closed as crews from the West Virginia and Ohio environmental protection agencies respond to the incident.

Why it matters

The closure of the Silver Bridge, a vital transportation link between West Virginia and Ohio, will likely cause significant traffic disruptions and delays for commuters and commercial vehicles traveling between the two states. The spill into the Ohio River also raises environmental concerns that will need to be addressed.

The details

According to Mason County dispatchers, the single-vehicle accident involving the tractor-trailer occurred Tuesday evening as the vehicle was traveling from Ohio into West Virginia on U.S. 35. The crash caused the contents and fuel from the truck to spill onto the roadway and into the nearby Ohio River.

• The accident occurred on Tuesday evening.

What’s next

Crews will need to work to clean up the spill and contents on the roadway and in the Ohio River, and the bridge will remain closed until the scene is cleared and deemed safe for travel.