01:33 PM CDT on Monday, June 12, 2006

WFAA-TV Staff

WFAA-TV

The jib of the crane was too tall to clear the underpass.

A traffic mishap in Northeast Dallas could have long-lasting and troublesome repercussions for a lot of drivers.

The Skillman Street bridge over Northwest Highway was damaged Monday morning when a crane tried to pass under, and didn't make it.

The jib, or crane arm, hit the overpass—causing chunks of concrete to fall to the pavement below.

Neal Goings, a spokesman for the company that owns the crane, said the driver had raised the crane just inches for a routine maintenance check on Monday morning, and apparently forgot to lower it before driving away.

Officials closed westbound Northwest Highway until the crame could be removed. It has been reopened to traffic.

Only one lane of northbound Skillman will remain open until repairs are made; the two outer lanes are closed.

The Texas Department of Transportation said that could take weeks.