A tractor-trailer dumped a 15-ton concrete culvert into the southbound lanes of Interstate 787 this morning, tying up traffic for more than five hours.

State police said the 13-foot by 7-1/2-foot culvert fell off the truck, owned by K.I.T. Transportation of Hannacroix, as it tipped while getting onto the highway from eastbound Route 7 about 4:15 a.m. No vehicles were hit by the culvert, troopers said, but one vehicle was damaged when it ran over some debris.

Workers from the state Department of Transportation and Roberts Towing needed several hours to remove the block, closing down two lanes of traffic as they broke the culvert into pieces and then hauled off the debris, troopers said. All lanes of traffic were reopened by 9:30 a.m., troopers said.

The driver of the truck, Shawn Sylvester of Hannacroix, was ticketed on charges of unsafe speed and improper load securement, troopers said. The truck was also taken off the road, troopers said, after an inspection found that the incident had nearly broken off the trailer's rear axles.