New Bedford Rt. 18 Temporarily Closed After Excavator Crash

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford drivers will have to find a way around Rt. 18 northbound at Elm Street, after MassDOT announced Thursday that the road is closed for an emergency inspection.

The state transportation agency took the emergency measure after a crash this morning in which a truck carrying an excavator hit the Rt. 6 overpass, causing possible structural damage.

It is unclear when the road will be reopened.

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State police said the crash took place at around 10:44 a.m. on Rt. 18 when a 33-year-old New Bedford man driving a tractor-trailer with an excavator on it smashed into the Rt. 6 overpass bridge.

The tall excavator arm hit the bridge, causing the machine to partly fall off the trailer, according to state police.

A 2011 Ford Edge being driven by a 55-year-old man from Randolph was also hit by the falling equipment.

But state police said no injuries were reported.

Rt. 6 heading towards Fairhaven was also temporarily closed to traffic earlier on Thursday.

MassDOT noted that drivers in the area should use caution and reduce speed.

Signs, traffic control devices, temporary detour signs and variable message boards will help guide drivers through the work zone, according to the transportation agency.