A truck carrying a bulldozer on Interstate 76-77 in Akron hit the East Avenue bridge Monday morning, knocking the bulldozer off its trailer, closing the eastbound/southbound lanes of the highway and muddying the commute for tens of thousands of motorists.

The highway isn't expected to reopen until Monday afternoon — and even then not all the lanes will be open because the Ohio Department of Transportation first needs to make repairs to the bridge and the pavement, agency spokesman Brent Kovacs said.

The crash occurred at 6:21 a.m., with the bulldozer striking the bridge and falling onto the road. A car then struck the bulldozer.

No injuries were reported, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

The drivers' names were not available.

Authorities urged motorists to avoid the area. The detour is shifting vehicles onto westbound I-76 at the Kenmore leg to Interstate 277/U.S. Route 224.

In addition to the highway, the accident impacted travel on East Avenue. ODOT called in bridge inspectors to examine the span before the two northbound lanes were re-opened. The southbound lanes will remain closed until bridge repairs are made, Kovacs said.

He said it's unclear when East will fully reopen.

The Highway Patrol, Akron police, Akron fire and ODOT were at the scene.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.