A truck struck the overhead structure of the 183rd Street viaduct in Homewood about 8:40 a.m. Monday, July 8, causing traffic disruptions on the busy street for nearly six hours, according to Homewood police.

There were no injuries in the incident. The driver was issued two citations, according to Homewood Deputy Police Chief Kelly Strayer. Officers cleared the scene shortly after 2:30 p.m.

The crash apparently occurred because the driver was unaware the bed of his truck was elevated as he entered the viaduct, Strayer said.

Homewood Public Works Director Joshua Burman said the crash caused some damage to the catwalk used by railroad workers and to the Welcome to Homewood sign. 

He said CN and Metra representatives arrived to evaluate conditions after the accident and Homewood plans to have a structural engineer assess the damage, too.

The 183rd Street viaduct, with posted clearance of 14 feet, 6 inches, rarely gets hit by vehicles  compared to the Dixie Highway viaduct north of the downtown area, which has a posted clearance of 11 feet, 10 inches.

Strayer said the police department has no records of a vehicle hitting the 183rd Street viaduct in the past five years. 

“Most of our viaduct accident occur at the lower viaduct on Dixie Highway,” she said.