I-55 bridge in Memphis to shut down this week for construction work

by George Jared ([email protected]) 1,053 views 

Motorists in the mid-South will only have one bridge option crossing the Mississippi River this weekend.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will be closing the I-55 Mississippi River Bridge to continue construction activities on the I-55 and Crump interchange.

Activities include work on the Wisconsin Bridge, repair work on the I-55 bridge, moving concrete barrier rail, and striping. All work is weather-dependent. The closure will begin at 8 pm on Friday (Oct. 6) and the bridge will be re-opened Monday (Oct. 9) at 6 am.

Major work on the bridge and connecting interstate highway has been ongoing since the other river spanning bridge in Memphis, the I-40 bridge, was shut down in May of 2021 after a large crack was discovered.

For months, the I-40 bridge, the busiest freight-carrying bridge in the U.S., was closed leaving the I-55 bridge as the only option for motorists and truckers.

Work to upgrade I-55 began after the I-40 bridge was reopened.