Cyr Bridge exit re-opened after inspection

Montana Department of Transportation officials announced that the Cyr Bridge exit re-opened Monday.

The exit was closed after an oversized tractor trailer exceeded the Cyr bridge’s weight limit recently.

Officials said there would be improved signage to alert drivers of the maximum weight limit.

According to MDOT, the exit had to be closed after the truck drove over the bridge Tuesday, July 16, when the driver became confused.

The oversized semi truck, which weighed 98,000 pounds, exceeded the Cyr bridge’s weight limit of 22,000 pounds.

After the truck drove across the bridge, it continued to Old Highway 10 in an attempt to return to Interstate 90, and tipped over about a quarter mile west of the Cyr bridge in Alberton.

No injuries were reported, according to Mel Holtz, a firefighter from Frenchtown Fire Department.

The driver had nowhere to turn around before the Cyr bridge, forcing him to attempt to turn around.

Prior to the incident, the semi was driving westbound on Interstate 90 when the driver accidentally got off at the Cyr exit, which was further east from where it normally is due to construction.

“A lot of people are getting confused,” said Holtz. “They are taking that exit when they shouldn’t.”

Following the truck’s tip, it ripped a small gash in the fuel tank and an estimated 30-40 gallons of diesel fuel leaked, according to Holtz.

Crews put absorbent pads down and stopped the fuel flow.

Holtz says they were there for about two hours before turning the scene over to Montana Highway Patrol.

MDOT feared the bridge deck was compromised.

Eastbound drivers had to use Fish Creek exit while westbound motorists had to access Fish Creek or Cyr through Tarkio, come back on Interstate 90 eastbound and take the Fish Creek exit.