A railroad bridge over U.S. Highway 90 on Alpine’s west side has been struck for the fourth time in just over two months, forcing another highway closure Tuesday morning and renewing concerns about repeated collisions involving oversized vehicles.
The Alpine Police Department said the bridge’s protective barrier was struck at approximately 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. The highway will remain closed for an undetermined period while crews repair the damaged barrier.
The latest incident follows three previously reported collisions at the same underpass on Aug. 10, Sept. 8 and Oct. 14. The four incidents occurred within a span of 71 days, making the bridge a recurring source of traffic disruptions for motorists traveling between Alpine and communities to the west.
The problem extends well beyond this year.
On Dec. 4, 2024, a truck hauling hay struck the railroad bridge, damaging the structure and forcing authorities to divert traffic. The Big Bend Sentinel reported that oversized trucks were prohibited from using the local detour, requiring some commercial drivers to travel through Fort Davis instead.
The bridge has a long history of collisions involving vehicles exceeding its clearance. The structure previously had a clearance of 13 feet, 7 inches, which was subsequently increased to 14 feet, 3 inches. Residents have recalled multiple crashes in recent years, while accounts of trucks striking the bridge date back to at least the 1970s, according to the Big Bend Sentinel.
An exact historical count of collisions has not been established, but at least five incidents have been documented since December 2024, including Tuesday’s crash.
The Sept. 8 collision involved a truck and trailer carrying an excavator for a border wall contractor. Police arrested Eder Nieto, 39, of Brownsville, after the equipment struck the bridge.
Nieto was charged with driving an over-height vehicle into a bridge. The offense was elevated to a Class B misdemeanor because he lacked the required license and permits, according to Alpine police. He was booked into the Brewster County Jail and subsequently released on bond.
The September collision caused significant damage and disrupted both highway traffic and the Union Pacific railroad line. Repairs were completed Sept. 11, allowing the roadway to reopen after several days.
Following that incident, Alpine Mayor Catherine Eaves called for residents to contact the Texas Department of Transportation about the recurring problem.
Eaves said TxDOT is responsible for Highway 90 and is the agency authorized to make roadway improvements. She also said work had been completed around November 2025 in an effort to prevent additional bridge strikes.
Despite those efforts, the underpass has continued to be struck.
The Oct. 14 collision marked the third reported strike of 2026. The highway was again closed while crews addressed damage to the protective barrier. Less than a week later, Tuesday’s incident brought the reported total to four this year.
Authorities have not identified the vehicle or driver involved in Tuesday’s collision or announced whether citations or criminal charges are expected.
The Alpine Police Department is asking motorists to use alternate routes, avoid the affected area and exercise caution around crews working near the underpass.
No estimated reopening time had been announced in the department’s Tuesday morning advisory.
The repeated collisions raise questions about whether existing clearance warnings, protective barriers and other traffic-control measures are sufficient to prevent oversized vehicles from striking the railroad crossing.
