I-40 Bridge Closed Indefinitely for Repair

 

Both the East and West bound lanes of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge of Interstate 40 in Memphis will be closed indefinitely, according to a statement released by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and confirmed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

A routine inspection conducted by a contractor with the Arkansas Department of Transportation found structural damage in one of the beams in the bridge.

“Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) contract crews will begin emergency repairs on the I-40 Hernando DeSoto Bridge over the Mississippi River after a routine inspection uncovered a crack in the bottom side of the bridge truss,” the TDOT statement said.

Drones have flown into the bridge to assess the extent of the damage to the bridge’s structural beam. Due to the extent and complexity of the damage, neither the ARDOT nor TDOT provided a timeline for the proposed improvements to the bridge.

To combat the closure, traffic will be diverted to cross the Mississippi River into Arkansas using Interstate 55.  Because of the detours related to construction, many travelers in the area have posted numerous pictures and videos of traffic with long lines and delays ahead of them.

“ARDOT is working with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to make sure the bridge is safe for motorists before it is reopened to any traffic. Updates will be issued as they are available,” ARDOT added.

First opened in 1973, the Hernando DeSoto Bridge has served the Memphis area for nearly a half-century.

For further updates, travelers can follow both the Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Both agencies have pledged to provide the public updates when more information is available.

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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Hernando de Soto Bridge” by Trevor Birchett CC4.0.