Staff Reports
TAYLORSVILLE — A low-hanging utility wire across I-65 near the 77 mile marker initially caused a couple accidents at about noon Tuesday, before police and firefighters shut down the interstate for hours waiting for the fiber optic line to be put back in place.
All northbound and southbound lanes of I-65 were diverted to U.S. 31 near Columbus, which also resulted in some traffic snafus on that highway as confused motorists attempted to navigate their way back to the interstate around the line.
The power line was so low it grazed across the front cabs of semis stopped in the I-65 lanes, with the confused drivers exiting their vehicles not knowing what to do as the wait continued.
Indiana State Police, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Edinburgh police and area firefighters attempted to wrangle traffic in both interstate lanes, using a utility truck to lift the line off the northbound lanes first at about 1:30 p.m. to clear that traffic, and then beginning work on the southbound side to lift the line so trapped traffic could move ahead.
All other northbound and southbound traffic was diverted off on U.S. 31 from the interstate as first responders waited for utility crews to raise the fiber optic line off the traffic lanes. Additional officers were brought in to help direct traffic on and off the interstate throughout the afternoon.
By 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, most of the traffic stuck between the exits had been cleared and moved out of the area.
However, U.S. 31, northbound and southbound, began experiencing traffic backups as more of the interstate traffic was diverted to the roadway through the rest of the afternoon.
