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A40 in Mülheim: after a fire in a tanker truck, the motorway remains closed for weeks!
Updated: September 18, 2020 at 8:59 pm
![Following the fire of a tanker on the A40, the bridge was severely damaged. The bridge was severely damaged after a tanker fire on the A40.](https://www.derwesten.de/resources/1600168180150/img/placeholder.png)
The bridge was severely damaged after a tanker fire on the A40.
Photo: dpa
When on Thursday the cloud of smoke over the A40 to Mülheim moved, the extent of the damage still couldn’t be predicted.
On Friday, a day later, experts from Straßen.NRW and the police checked the damage to the A40 to Mülheim, especially the damage to the bridge, looked closer.
The A40 near Mülheim will be closed for two weeks.
Consequently, the A40 in Mülheim will be closed for at least two weeks. At least one of the five damaged rail bridges over the highway must be demolished, a rail spokesman said on Friday. Trains between Duisburg and Essen will be replaced by buses until further notice. The demolition should start on Monday. Preparations for the demolition work are already underway this weekend. This is the structure of the central bridge, which was in the immediate vicinity of the accident site and therefore in the direct heat source.
Adjacent bridges are also checked
In parallel with the plans for the demolition work, tests of the neighboring bridge structures, including power systems and technology, are currently underway. Experts have been working hard on static and material testing since the early hours of Friday morning.
The specific extent of the damage can only be declared after the investigation has been completed. Complex analysis of bridge structures is likely to be time consuming.
How did the accident occur?
Based on initial findings, the driver is said to have left the road to the right and then hit the concrete barrier on the left. Then around 25,000 liters of diesel and 10,000 liters of super gasoline were burned.
Another injured driver
The driver of the truck, who was able to rescue himself from the vehicle, was injured. Then rescuers took him to a hospital. In addition, a second person was injured and the truck pushed another driver into the demarcation area.
Since the accident, the A40 between the Kaiserberg and Mülheim-Dümpten junction has been closed in both directions for several days. And it will continue like this for at least two weeks.
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The road surface was severely damaged by the fire. In addition, disruptions to rail traffic are to be expected, as the rail bridge was also severely damaged by the heat. Also, parts of the airline have melted.
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The driver had been drinking alcohol
It is now clear that the tanker driver had drunk alcohol. (vh / nk / fb)
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