on december 15, 1973, an section of the northbound lanes between little west 12th street and gansevoort street collapsed under the weight of a dump truck, which was thought to carry over of asphalt for ongoing repairs of the highway. the joints between transverse stringers holding up this section of roadway and the eastern main girder (holding the decorative friezes), failed. a four-door sedan followed the truck through the hole; neither driver was seriously injured. it took hours to back all the traffic off the span trapped behind the collapse. it was later learned that the truck was actually carrying of asphalt, and was overloaded. blame was assigned to the trucking company, edenwald construction corp. of whitestone, queens, but they were still awarded a no-bid contract to clean up the mess. the day after, both directions were closed indefinitely south of 18th street. this not only closed off the oldest section (between canal street and 18th street), but also the newest sections (south of canal street), because ramps south of the collapse only permitted northbound entrances and southbound exits. the southernmost northbound exit was at 23rd street.