West Memphis, Arkansas – A full closure of the Interstate 55 (I-55) Mississippi River Bridge is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, as crews perform critical repairs on the bridge’s finger joints. The work is part of ongoing maintenance efforts to keep the bridge safe and operational.
According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), the closure will begin at Exit 1 (Bridgeport Road) in Arkansas and extend across the Mississippi River to Exit 12 (Crump Boulevard/Riverside Drive) in Tennessee. In preparation, traffic on I-55 will be reduced to a single lane at Exit 4 (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive/Highway 38) prior to the full shutdown.
Southbound Reopens First, Northbound Stays Closed Longer
Southbound I-55 will close at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 15, and reopen at 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. However, the northbound side will remain closed longer. It will also shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday but will not reopen until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18.
A signed detour will guide vehicles around the closure, and traffic is strongly encouraged to take the Interstate 40 Mississippi River Bridge as an alternate route.
The closure is necessary to repair the bridge’s finger joints — large interlocking metal components that allow for safe expansion and contraction of the bridge due to temperature changes and structural stress. These joints are essential for bridges with long spans, such as the I-55 Mississippi River crossing.
Message boards are already in place along I-55 to inform drivers of the upcoming closure. Officials urge all motorists to plan ahead, follow detour signs, and use extra caution near the work zone.
Weather conditions could impact the schedule, but if conditions remain favorable, work is expected to proceed as planned.
