A Las Vegas police officer responds to the scene where a portion of a bridge collapsed at U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
A Las Vegas police officer and Las Vegas Paving Corp. employees survey the damage after a portion of a bridge on U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue collapsed on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
A motorist traveling north on U.S. 95 passes the portion of a bridge over North Eastern Avenue that collapsed on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Las Vegas Paving Corp. employees survey the damage after a portion of a bridge on U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue collapsed while traffic continues north above on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
A portion of a bridge on U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue collapsed on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Las Vegas police and Las Vegas Fire and Rescue respond to the scene where a portion of a bridge collapsed at U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
The entrance to U.S. 95 at North Eastern Avenue, near where a portion of a bridge collapsed, on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue responds to the scene where a portion of a bridge on U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue collapsed on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
A Las Vegas police officer in front of a pile of debris after a portion of a bridge on U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue collapsed on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. One person suffered apparent minor injuries. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A pile of debris is left after a portion of a bridge on U.S. 95 over North Eastern Avenue collapsed on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. One person suffered apparent minor injuries. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
One person suffered what are reported to be minor injuries when a portion of a U.S. 95 bridge over North Eastern Avenue collapsed on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Kevin Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The scene of a suspected bridge collapse at U.S. 95 and Eastern Avenue on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
First responders at the scene of a bridge collapse at U.S. 95 and Eastern Avenue on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (RTC Camera)
The scene of a suspected bridge collapse at U.S. 95 and Eastern Avenue on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (RTC Camera)
Bridge collapse at U.S. 95 and Eastern Avenue on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (RTC Camera)
A U.S. 95 bridge collapsed while under construction Thursday afternoon, briefly trapping and injuring a worker, authorities said.
A Nevada Department of Transportation project had involved a planned demolishment of a bridge, and had closed Eastern Avenue, fire, transportation and highway officials said. Shortly before 4 p.m., authorities received a report of a collapse in the area and that a person was trapped.
The injured contract worker complained of back pain, and workplace safety officials were quickly notified, according to officials.
The construction worker was taken to a nearby hospital, and treated for injuriies.
“We do not have details yet as to the extent of those injuries and are working to get updates in real time,” said Justin Hopkins, Transportation Department spokesman.
Spokeswoman Adrienne Packer added that the collapse was not due to any structural deficiencies and that the freeway was not damaged. She said the collapse occurred as crews brought down an old girder that buckled.
The worker’s injuries were “very minor,” according to Packer.
Transportation Department officials said they did not believe crews did anything wrong, but Packer said she expected an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation into the collapse.
Crews have been demolishing the southbound section of the Eastern Avenue overpass as part of its $40 million U.S. 95 viaduct replacement and retrofit work.
Eastern has been closed to vehicle and pedestrians traffic under that bridge since Monday and traffic on U.S. 95 has been shifted.
The road had been scheduled to reopen late Tuesday night. U.S. Highway 95 and Interstate 515 remained open and safe for motorists Thursday night, according to a Transportation Department press release.
“NDOT is closely monitoring the situation and working with safety officials to determine the cause of the incident,” the release stated.
