Columbus is bracing for a “major disruption” to traffic in east Columbus as the city closes a portion of North Lehmberg Road for emergency repairs.
The road will close at 6 a.m. Monday at the bridge over Magby Creek near Dutch Village. Mayor Robert Smith said the closure will last for at least a month.
Approximately 9,200 vehicles travel North Lehmberg Road each day, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
An inspection found severe rust deterioration near the water line on some of the bridge’s pilings. Smith said he and his staff made the decision to close the bridge Tuesday morning. Smith said the city will pour concrete around the pilings while the road is closed.
“Our engineers have already started designing some drawings where we can start taking quotes,” Smith said. “Hopefully, within a month’s time, it’ll be back to where the citizens can use it again.”
The bridge was built in 1988. The city doesn’t yet have a price estimate for repairs. The city will pay for the repairs from its general fund.
Smith encouraged citizens to begin planning detour routes to use while the bridge is closed. Traffic will be detoured to West Lehmberg in both directions and also along Gardner Boulevard.
“We went door-to-door this morning and notified the businesses in the area about the closing,” Smith said in a city-issued press release. “We have notified the hospital, the schools and trucking companies (Tuesday) morning about the closing. We need the public’s help to take alternate routes.”
Officials told The Dispatch the bridge is not in danger of immediate collapse. However, the deterioration is severe enough that the city must take action to fix the problem before the bridge reaches the point of potential structural failure.
“This is all about safety,” Smith said in the release. “In 1988 bridges were built with steel pilings and that steel is just worn out. We have to protect the public and these repairs must be made. This is an unanticipated repair but one that must be made.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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