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Craig T. Kojima / ckojima@staradvertiser.com
Workers on the h-1 freeway inspected damage to the gulick avenue overpass in Kalihi after a crane being carried on a truck struck the overpass at 10:15 a.m. Monday. Traffic backed up as two eastbound lanes were closed during the inspection. both lanes were reopened by 1:30 p.m.
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Two lanes of the eastbound H-1 freeway were closed for a couple of hours Wednesday morning due to damage to the Gulick Avenue overpass.
A vehicle hit the overpass, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Witnesses reported that there were large pieces of debris scattered on the freeway. Highway crews were sent to clear the lanes, which reopened at 10:30 a.m.
Transportation Department spokesman Tim Sakahara said state officials received the initial call at 8:15 a.m. The vehicle did not stop after striking the overpass and left the scene.
The incident caused a major traffic backup on the freeway near the Middle Street merge.
The Gulick overpass sustained damage just 10 days ago on Nov. 16, when a similar accident resulted in lane closures that snarled traffic. In that incident, the Gulick Avenue overpass was hit by a crane that was being hauled in a vehicle. Two lanes of the freeway were closed for about four hours to evaluate damage and clear debris from the roadway.
There were no injuries reported in either incident.
In October 2012, a truck towing a forklift smashed through a pedestrian bridge over Moanalua Freeway near Aloha Stadium and Aiea Elementary School, closing all westbound lanes. Major damage rendered the overpass unsafe and it had to be torn down, backing up traffic for hours.