Crack in bridge beam closes traffic at lower Mississippi river

by The Editorial Team

May 14, 2021

Traffic on the Lower Mississippi River has stopped at mile marker 736 due to a crack in the Hernando de Soto Bridge.

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According to reports, a two-foot-wide steel box beam has been broken nearly in two at a location near the bridge’s center pier. What is more, three of the four plates that make up the beam have separated completely.

Currently, an inspection process is still under way which could take several weeks to complete. In fact, the damage could take as long as two months to repair, according to the head engineer for Tennessee’s transportation department.

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The bridge has been in operation for nearly 50 years, with exprets believing that the fracture was caused by fatigue.

In the meantime, USCG has closed off the waterway to all vessel traffic near the bridge span. As of May 13, there were 16 vessels waiting on both sides. There is no timeline on when the waterway will open.