Around 30 vehicles were damaged on Saturday while driving on Interstate 91 near mile marker 9 in Western Massachusetts.

Massachusetts State Police confirmed on Saturday it was helping “several disabled motorists in the breakdown lane.” On Monday, officials stated Massachusetts State Police, HELP Trucks and other various tow trucks helped around 30 vehicles.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) responded to the scene to assist and determine if an object or debris in the roadway may have caused the issue. By Monday, MassDOT had confirmed the issues were caused by a bridge joint sticking up on the bridge carrying I-91 over the Connecticut River.

The joint was cut down on Saturday.

The bridge joint allows the bridge to safely move as temperatures cause expansion and contraction.

Damage from bridge joints isn’t uncommon. TxDOT stated it was “normal wear-and-tear” after multiple drivers got flat tires, according to ABC13. And a snowplow likely pulled one loose in Syracuse in 2023. Officials also had to cut down the joint.

David Smith, the DOT’s Central New York regional director, told Syracuse.com that cutting the steel doesn’t affect traffic but it does reduce the lifespan of the bridge joint.

MassDOT said it will work with a contractor to perform a long-term repair.

Those affected by the bridge joint can file a claim online. However, there can be no recovery for property damage, only personal injury, which is limited to $4,000, according to the website.