NASHVILLE (AP) - A portion of Interstate 65 in Middle Tennessee will be closed in both directions next weekend to remove a bridge that was damaged when a truck carrying gasoline hit a vertical support.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says it will close the interstate from Friday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. until Monday, Sept. 22, at 5 a.m. From Tuesday, Sept. 16, to Thursday, Sept. 18, the Transportation Department will close a single lane in each direction between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night.

The closures will take place at mile marker 61 in Franklin. Motorists will be able to use the ramps at state Route 248 to bypass the closures. However, the Transportation Department is advising travelers to use alternate routes, such as Interstate 24 or state Route 840.

TDOT officials say the damage occurred when a tanker truck somehow turned sideways, allowing the tanker portion to hit a vertical column supporting the bridge. The tanker hi t with such force that it split in two, and a piece of it slid down the road before exploding.

The early morning Aug. 15 crash killed the truck's driver, 67-year-old Bobby Bobo of Columbia. There were no other injuries.

Both the old Peytonsville Road bridge that was still in use and a new bridge that was being built to replace it were damaged beyond repair.

The old bridge was removed immediately after the crash. Next weekend's closure will allow crews to demolish and remove the new bridge.

TDOT is rebuilding the Peytonsville Road bridge in two sections. The department expects the first section to open by Nov. 27, allowing traffic to resume over I-65 at that time. Construction on the second section of the bridge will likely begin in the spring.