NATCHEZ — Workers on the westbound span of the Mississippi River bridge at Natchez are poised to begin a 72-hour, around-the-clock surgery on critical pieces high above the road surface.

Work on the pin-and-link replacement project will also include cutting the links, a Mississippi Department of Transportation spokesperson said.

“We want to make sure the traveling public is aware of the work taking place on the westbound US 84 bridge,” said Transportation Commissioner Tom King. “MDOT advises motorists drive slow and be alert for roadside workers when traveling throughout the area.”

The westbound bridge is the older of the two spans. It was constructed in 1940, a federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The bridge spans 3,664 feet across the Mississippi River.

The pins and links being replaced help connect the upper portions of the bridge’s trusses together. They are designed to allow the bridge to flex slightly.

The pins are 10-inches in diameter. MDOT records indicate some of the pins were observed to have shifted as far back as 1995.

Contractors have attempted to repair the pins in the past, but failed.

MDOT has characterized the pin-and-link replacement as part of the routine maintenance of the bridge, but it has resulted in the closure of the westbound span and the re-routing of traffic to run head-to-head with a concrete barrier between lanes on the eastbound span for the last month.

The MDOT spokesman said the lane changes would remain in place for approximately four to five more weeks.

Loads wider than 14 feet will not be allowed on the bridge during the closure.

For further information, visit mdottraffic.com or call 511.