Part of James River Freeway will be closed tonight so City Utilities crews can string a new power line over the road.
CU says crews need to string a new line across the bridge at James River and Campbell.
The original power line was knocked down on the overpass late Tuesday morning by an oversized vehicle, knocking out power to about 1,200 customers for two hours.
Detours will be in place on James River between Kansas and Campbell from 8 p.m. until around 6 a.m.
Westbound traffic must exit at Campbell, while eastbound traffic must exit at Kansas.
Traffic on James River will be detoured onto Republic Road.
Crews hope to finish repairing the damage before 6 a.m.
But there may be some brief power interruptions in the area.
Update:
It took two hours, but power has been restored around James River and Campbell in south Springfield.
City Utilities Spokesman Joel Alexander says three oversized vehicles were headed eastbound on the bridge at James River and Campbell when one of them snagged the power line overhead.
The line snapped back and landed on a vehicle in the westbound lanes.
Nobody was hurt.
Traffic had to be diverted, causing big backups.
Alexander says about 1,200 customers were affected.
Alexander says the fixes this afternoon are only temporary.
Crews will come back later to finish the work.
Photos from the scene at James River & Campbell pic.twitter.com/vdQyLCMQob
— City Utilities (@cityutilities) August 20, 2019
City Utilities is reporting a downed power line has knocked out power and is causing traffic problems around Campbell and James River Freeway in Springfield.
As of about 11:40 a.m., City Utilities spokesman says about 1,500 customers were without power. This is includes Kickapoo High School and Horace Mann Elementary.
Springfield Public Schools has sent out information to parents at both schools.
Power outages at Kickapoo and Mann. Learn more.
Kickapoo: https://t.co/1zt9675DGx
Mann: https://t.co/O7R3uQl58Z pic.twitter.com/34FndX8w0y— Springfield Public Schools (@officialSPS) August 20, 2019
Go Patrol Spotters say the power line was laying in the roadway on Campbell just before 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Crews are directing traffic around the intersection while they work to fix the outage.
All northbound traffic on Campbell is being directed onto eastbound Highway 60. Drivers say traffic northbound is backed up past Plainview Road.
The Springfield School District says its going ahead with the school day with a few minor adjustments.
School officials say they’re watching the temperatures inside the buildings.
Lunch is being served with a few changes.
The buildings have plenty of water, although the phone service may not be working.
