May 13, 2021 By Shelley Byrne
(Note: This is an updated and expanded version of a story that was initially posted on Waterwaysjournal.net May 12. This story will be updated as needed.)
The Coast Guard closed the Lower Mississippi River in both directions for a mile on either side of the Hernando de Soto Bridge in Memphis, Tenn., following the discovery May 11 of a crack in one of the main beams supporting it.
The closure is between Mile 736 and 737. The bridge carries Interstate 40 between Memphis and West Memphis, Ark. Vehicular traffic was being rerouted via I-55, which crosses the river just downstream.
Urgent 911 Calls After Major Crack Found In Interstate 40 Bridge Linking Arkansas & Tennessee
Repairs to the Interstate 40 bridge linking Arkansas and Tennessee could take months after a crack was found in the span, forcing thousands of trucks and cars to detour and shutting down shipping on a section of the Mississippi River, a transportation official said Wednesday.
A congressional Democrat from Tennessee flagged the crack as a warning sign of the urgent need to act on fixes to the nation s infrastructure. Republican U.S. senators also pointed out the need for infrastructure spending while criticizing President Joe Biden s plan.
The six-lane bridge Hernando DeSoto Bridge into Memphis was shut down Tuesday afternoon after inspectors found a significant fracture in one of two 900-foot horizontal steel beams that are crucial for the bridge s integrity, said Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Tennessee Department of Transportation via AP
Originally published on May 14, 2021 7:29 am
Traffic on and below a major bridge over the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tenn., could be halted for several days or longer, causing significant disruptions to motorists and shipping, officials said Wednesday.
Authorities in Arkansas and Tennessee, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, indefinitely stopped all traffic related to the Hernando de Soto Bridge on Interstate 40 after inspectors discovered a crack in the steel structure Tuesday, and Tennessee officials said repairs could take some time.
The bridge connects Memphis to West Memphis, Ark., and is above a crucial waterway for barges transporting crops to export markets. Crews have begun emergency repairs.
Memphis Commercial Appeal
The crack in the Hernando de Soto M Bridge, officials said, is on a beam that is crucial to the bridge s structural integrity and is located near the middle of the M. This fracture had the potential of becoming a catastrophic event, said Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
That possible catastrophe was prevented, she said, due to maintaining routine inspections of the bridge, which were underway Tuesday when the crack was discovered. Officials said it is most likely the fracture is due to bridge fatigue; the bridge has been open to traffic for nearly 50 years and remains an important component of regional logistics.
Crack in I-40 bridge shuts down traffic between Tennessee, Arkansas
Bridge, as well as Mississippi River below, remained closed as of Thursday morning Crack in I-40 bridge that connects Arkansas and Tennessee. (Photo: ARDOT)
ICYMI – the #40MSRiverBridge remains closed until further notice. A significant fracture was found during a routine inspection. We and @myTDOT are working together to safeguard all travelers (road & water) and then reopen these paths to the public as soon as safely possible. pic.twitter.com/D6DXwlH5Cf Arkansas DOT (@myARDOT) May 12, 2021
Updated May 13, 2021, 2 p.m. ET.
The six-lane Interstate 40 bridge linking Arkansas and Tennessee was shut down Tuesday afternoon after authorities said they found a crack in the center span. As of early Thursday afternoon, the bridge was still closed in both directions, according to Tennessee and Arkansas road closure maps..