US 287 Fort Worth Closure at Erath Street: What Truckers Need

What happened

The US 287 Fort Worth closure at Erath Street is still causing detours on the south side of the city. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, around 6:13 p.m., a dumpster truck left the roadway on U.S. 287, also called the Martin Luther King Freeway. It hit a support pillar of the Erath Street overpass and snapped a concrete support, FOX 4 reported.

One person in the truck died at the scene. A second person was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police are still looking into what caused the crash.

The main lanes of U.S. 287 were shut in both directions at Erath Street. There are two different timelines in the news:

• Fort Worth police said the main lanes would stay closed for at least 7 to 10 days while crews check the damaged bridge column. CBS Texas repeated this in an update late Thursday night.
• TxDOT, the Texas Department of Transportation, said Thursday its goal was to reopen the main lanes by 6 a.m. Friday, FOX 4 reported.

Both sources agree on one thing. The Erath Street overpass itself, the bridge that crosses over the freeway, is expected to stay closed through October.

Detours reported so far:

• Southbound: exit at Berry Street.
• Northbound: traffic has been sent off at Miller Avenue. NBC DFW listed Wilbarger Street for northbound, so follow the signs on site.

What it means for owner-operators

U.S. 287 is a busy freeway for trucks on the southeast side of Fort Worth. A closure here pushes big trucks onto frontage roads with lights, tight turns and more stop-and-go traffic.

Because the timelines do not match, do not plan your day on the best case. Even if the main lanes open, the Erath Street crossing will be out for weeks, and work crews may still be near the bridge.

This is a Texas story, but the lesson works on any US highway. After a bridge is hit, reopening dates can change fast. Your GPS may not know yet.

What to do next

• Check DriveTexas.org or TxDOT Fort Worth before you roll, every day this week.
• If you deliver near Erath Street, call your receiver and ask for the best way in.
• Build extra time into loads that pass through south Fort Worth.
• Slow down near barrels and crews. Give workers room.
• Keep your paperwork as ready as your route. New carriers can use our new entrant safety audit guide to get ready.

Need your USDOT, IFTA or IRP in order before your next run? Call TCZ Permits at 956-526-6727. Filings can come at no cost when you factor with us.