I-55 bridge to close during this weekend

Bridge to reopen Monday morning if weather cooperates

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Anyone planning their Valentine’s weekend across the bridge may want to leave early to make those reservations and should prepare for major delays as construction crews will temporarily shut down the I-55 bridge for critical repairs.

From Friday, Feb. 14, at 8:00 p.m., through Monday, Feb. 17, at 6:00 a.m., contract crews with TDOT will be closing both northbound and souuthbound lanes of I-55 as part of an ongoing improvement project at the I-55 and Crump interchange.

The closure will impact motorists traveling in both directions. Southbound lanes will be shut down at Bridgeport Road in Arkansas, while northbound traffic will be stopped at South Parkway in Tennessee. Local traffic will be allowed to continue to the McLemore exit, but no vehicles will be able to cross the bridge. Additionally, the southbound ramp to I-55 and westbound Crump Boulevard will also be closed.

Construction crews from Bell & Associates Construction LLC will be performing expansion joint repairs, finger joint repairs, and texture coating work during the shutdown. A detour will be in place, and motorists are encouraged to follow posted signs or seek alternate routes to avoid congestion.

As always, officials urge caution for those traveling near the construction zone. Drivers should remain alert, follow posted detour signs, and allow for extra travel time when navigating the area. If possible, using an alternate route, such as the I-40 Hernando de Soto Bridge, is recommended to avoid the closure altogether.

Weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances could impact the construction timeline, but as of now, the bridge is expected to reopen to traffic on Monday, Feb. 17, at 6:00 a.m.

The closure will impact motorists traveling in both directions. Southbound lanes will be shut down at Bridgeport Road in Arkansas, while northbound traffic will be stopped at South Parkway in Tennessee.