NATCHEZ — Mississippi Department of Transportation officials plan to open one lane for westbound traffic on the north Mississippi River bridge Saturday morning.

Mississippi Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Jas N. Smith said crews plan to remove the barricades Saturday to allow traffic on the bridge that has been closed for a little longer than a year.

The bridge was closed for a nearly $27 million project that included a new paint job and replacement of 10-foot long pins in the bridge.

Smith said even though traffic will be allowed on the north bridge, the south bridge will still be down to one lane for eastbound traffic.

“It will still be one lane because we have some maintenance on the south bridge that has to be done,” Smith said.

Smith said after maintenance is complete on the bridge it will be reopened to two-lane traffic.

Smith said as of this week, the bridge project should be completed ahead of the May 2019 contract deadline.

“We are on track to be finished ahead of schedule,” Smith said.

Completion of the pin replacement project will continue while both bridges are open to single lane traffic. The project is projected to be completed in the late fall, Smith said.