BATESVILLE, Miss. — The Coldwater Bridge on Highway 51 in Tate County will remain closed for quite some time, officials said on Tuesday.
After significant flooding in the area, the Mississippi Department of Transportation decided to move forward with its plan to replace the bridge sooner than expected.
The bridge was scheduled to be replaced in November 2016.
MDOT closed the bridge on March 11 after it started sagging.
An engineer in Desoto County told WREG the pilings are buckling causing cracks roughly six inches long.
An later inspection of the bridge once the floodwaters receded revealed repairing the structure wasn’t an option.
Replacing the 1,100 foot bridge will take anywhere from 18 to 24 months and will likely begin in May.
A signed detour route is in place that sends drivers to I-55 between Hernando and Coldwater.
The state asks for patience as they continue to respond to this issue.
