Damaged section of Sitterly Road bridge over Northway in Clifton Park removed; Temp structure to come

Crews work on removing the Sitterly Road bridge over the Northway - Credit: New York State Department of Transportation

CLIFTON PARK – State Department of Transportation crews made “quick work” removing part of the Sitterly Road Bridge above Interstate 87 overnight Saturday.

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All three southbound lanes of the highway, also called the Adirondack Northway, reopened Sunday after the state DOT removed the section of bridge above the highway, which had been damaged by a truck crash April 14.

“On schedule! Cleanup underway!” Clifton Park Highway Superintendent Dahn Bull posted on Facebook Sunday, along with photos of the work progress.

A temporary bridge will be installed above the highway’s southbound lanes in the near future, according to the DOT.

Until then, Sitterly Road above the Northway will remain closed to all traffic, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Travelers should continue to follow the posted detour, the DOT said.

In a statement, the DOT said it “appreciates the patience of the traveling public and we will continue to keep everyone apprised of any impacts.”

Bull was at the scene Saturday night as he said crews dismantled the overpass in two hours.

Highway officials previously said the work was expected to take about 16 hours, weather permitting.

Sitterly Road is a key route between Clifton Park and Halfmoon, used by motorists 15,000 times a day.

A boom lift being towed on a trailer behind a truck smashed into the overpass. The crash closed all three southbound lanes of the Northway, and snarled the morning commute.

The bridge was immediately closed so that engineers could evaluate the structural damage it had sustained.

Its closure caused traffic congestion in the two towns and prompted adjustment of normal driving patterns and school bus routes.

State police said George Gizzi, 56, of Colonie, was ticketed for driving an Admar Construction Equipment & Supplies Co. truck in the right southbound lane when the boom lift he was towing hit the overpass. The rig exceeded the 14-foot, 4-inch height limit for the overpass. The boom was knocked off the trailer and across all three driving lanes.

The New York State Department of Transportation’s Capital Region office tweeted out a series of photos of the removal as it happened.

Happening now: Work underway to remove the section of the Sitterly Road bridge over the southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park.

Southbound Northway (I-87) closed between Exit 9 and Exit 8A. Detour: Route 146 east, Route 9 south, Grooms Road west to re-enter Northway. pic.twitter.com/r2YV5v0BkE

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

Work continues to remove the Sitterly Road bridge over the southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park.

Southbound Northway (I-87) closed between Exit 9 and Exit 8A. Detour: Route 146 east, Route 9 south, Grooms Road west to re-enter Northway. pic.twitter.com/HeuAVdIgia

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

Sparks fly as removal of section of Sitterly Road bridge over southbound #I87Northway continues in Clifton Park.

Southbound Northway (I-87) closed between Exit 9 and Exit 8A. Detour: Route 146 east, Route 9 south, Grooms Road west to re-enter Northway. pic.twitter.com/t4KTU2pKsk

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

Work continuing tonight to remove damaged section of Sitterly Road bridge over the southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park.

Southbound Northway (I-87) remains closed between Exit 9 and Exit 8A. Detour at Exit 9 for Route 146 east to Route 9 south to Grooms Road west to Northway. pic.twitter.com/i0YlRxe3qm

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

More from tonight’s removal of the Sitterly Road bridge over the southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park.

Southbound Northway (I-87) remains closed between Exit 9 and Exit 8A. Follow posted detour: Route 146 east to Route 9 south to Grooms Road west to re-enter Northway south. pic.twitter.com/oyYx3xIZVu

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

First beam cut from portion of Sitterly Road bridge over southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park.

Southbound Northway (I-87) remains closed between Exit 9 and Exit 8A. Detour: Route 146 east, Route 9 south, Grooms Road west to re-enter Northway south. pic.twitter.com/n4J601owmI

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

Second beam cut from section of Sitterly Road bridge over southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park.

Southbound Northway (I-87) remains closed between Exit 9 and Exit 8A. pic.twitter.com/qOvK4im9Lt

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

More photos from work to remove section of Sitterly Road bridge over southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park. pic.twitter.com/8ebmE97Ael

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

More images from early this morning of work to remove section of the Sitterly Road bridge over the southbound #I87Northway in Clifton Park. pic.twitter.com/9g64Dg0T3D

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021

More from the removal of the segment of the Sitterly Road bridge over the southbound #I87Northway earlier today in Clifton Park.

Northway southbound re-opened to three lanes of traffic this morning as did the Exit 9 on-ramps south. Sitterly Road remains closed over Northway. pic.twitter.com/1HSUna9Dez

— NYSDOT CapitalRegion (@NYSDOTAlbany) April 25, 2021