Steel beam falls on A81 highway during construction; one injured, highway closed

The A81 highway near Bad Dürrheim in Germany experienced a significant disruption early Tuesday morning when a steel beam from a bridge construction project collapsed onto the roadway. The incident led to a complete closure of the highway in both directions, affecting traffic towards Singen and Stuttgart.

According to police, the steel beam fell onto scaffolding before hitting the road. The accident resulted in one construction worker sustaining a broken foot, requiring hospitalization. Authorities have confirmed that a structural engineer has been dispatched to assess the integrity of the bridge and determine if other steel beams are secure.

Traffic is being rerouted via the B27 federal highway. Police are managing the situation, including temporarily guiding vehicles in the opposite direction of travel off the A81 onto the A864. Drivers are strongly advised to anticipate delays and seek alternative routes to avoid the affected area.

The full extent of the damage and the timeline for reopening the highway remain unclear as the structural assessment is pending. The incident highlights the potential risks associated with large-scale infrastructure projects.

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His foot was broken.