How bad are the Mississippi River bridge cracks? Bad. May 12, 20214:27 pm Interstate 40 bridge linking Memphis and West Memphis. The Hernando DeSoto Bridge was closed hurriedly yesterday after the discovery of the crack near the midpoint of the bridge. Barge traffic on the Mississippi River beneath the bridge also was halted as a safety precaution. Assessments are underway with no timeline yet on reopening. Advertisement Advertisement The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) are working together to safely repair and reopen the Interstate 40 Bridge over the Mississippi River, according to agency officials.
A routine bridge inspection on May 11 by Michael Baker International revealed a significant fracture in a steel support beam that is crucial for the structure of the bridge. The inspector immediately notified emergency services and shut down all access to the bridge, including barge traffic on the Mississippi River.