Intense winds Sunday morning caused dozens of empty railroad cars to be blown off a bridge overpass and onto Loop 287 in Lufkin.

Loop 287 from Highway 103 West to Highway 69 North will be closed for an estimated two days to remove 64 empty rail cars that blew off a bridge overpass at Loop 287/ North John Redditt Drive. The empty cars were being stored on the track when a gust of at least 40 mph winds blew through around 7 am this morning. Equipment to clean up the damage is being brought in from Houston. According to Rhonda Oaks, the local public information officer,

Removing the railcars in the safest way possible will require certain things to happen.  Our officials have devised a traffic control plan for motorists until the cars can be removed, and we are hoping that will be by Monday evening. We are waiting on equipment that is being sent from Houston before the cleanup can begin.

There were no injuries reported.

Apart from the rail cars, the 40 mph straight winds also blew down power lines, street signs, and trees, as well as caused damage to billboards in the area.

via KTLV

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