UPDATE: Traffic advisory: Northbound I-75 lanes now open

Motorists drive on I-75 as shown from the Southwest 66th Street bridge south of Ocala in 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

UPDATE: 4:31 pm – All lanes of northbound I-75 are now open.

UPDATE: 2:08 pm – The far left lane of northbound I-75 just before the SW 66th Street bridge is now open. Crews are actively inspecting and addressing the damage to the SW 66th Street bridge.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE – Motorists are advised that all lanes along northbound I-75 are closed at County Road 484 in Marion County due to a bridge hit at the Southwest 66^th Street bridge, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a semi-truck driven by a 71-year-old man was hauling a large excavator on a flatbed trailer and traveling northbound on I-75. The excavator struck the SW 66th Street overpass causing damage to the bridge.

According to the FDOT, the following detour is active until further notice: Motorists heading northbound on I-75 will be directed to merge off the interstate at Exit 341 (County Road 484), head eastbound on CR 484, and head north along U.S. 301 before reaching where U.S. 301 and U.S. 441 meet. Motorists wishing to return to I-75 should stay on U.S. 301/U.S. 441 until reaching State Road 40 in Ocala, where they can head west to return to I-75.

The Northwest 66^th Street bridge over I-75 is also closed to traffic until further notice, per FDOT.