DOTD workers had to close the bridge to vehicular traffic

DOTD workers had to close the bridge to vehicular traffic A leak in a hydraulic cylinder used to turn the bridge's main span forced the state Department of Transportation and Development to temporarily close the bridge to traffic earlier this week. The bridge may reopen as early as Thursday afternoon if the leak can be easily repaired, said Marshall Hill, DOTD district administrator in Monroe.

"We had to close it this week to make hydraulics repairs," Hill said. "We hope to have it fixed and open the bridge by Thursday afternoon or Friday at the latest."

DOTD workers had to close the bridge to vehicular traffic and open the span to access the leaking cylinder, one of four hydraulic cylinders used to rotate the span when barge traffic approaches on the Ouachita River.