The wreck _ which occurred at the intersection of Interstates 20/59 and 65 _ was the second such crash at ``malfunction junction'' in less than three years. The first accident killed a trucker, but no one was seriously hurt in Thursday's wreck.
Authorities said a tanker carrying fuel overturned in a curve about 7 a.m., spilling an estimated 9,000 gallons of fuel that erupted into flames and sent a huge column of inky black smoke skyward.
Mayoral aide Don Lupo said the truck came to rest under a 20/59 overpass, which was blackened and bent by the intense heat of the fire, which burned about 30 minutes.
Interstate 65 remained open, but Lupo said 20/59 _ the main route linking Atlanta and New Orleans _ would remain closed at least through late Friday as workers remove the remains of the overpass.
``The fire just charred the bridge. You can see big chunks of concrete falling off it,'' he said.
Authorities said it could be months before traffic is back to normal.
``They have a lot to clean up,'' said Lt. Henry Irby, a police spokesman. Irby said it was unclear whether any charges would be filed against the driver, whose name was not immediately released.
In January 2002, a fuel tanker exploded after colliding with a car at a different part of the same interchange, which was badly damaged. Demolition of that bridge and construction of a new one took about 10 months.
