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NATCHEZ — The work to repair the Canal Street bridge temporarily is complete. On Tuesday, Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson told aldermen that the work has been inspected, and the bridge’s 5-ton weight limit can now be removed.

“We have been given the all-clear on the Canal Street Bridge, and the posting of the 5-ton weight limit is about to be removed. That means tour buses and emergency vehicles who need to use that bridge can use it,” he said.

However, Gibson sternly warned anyone thinking about driving an 18-wheeler over the bridge: Don’t do it, or you will face a $1,000 fine.

Aldermen chose to make repairs on the bridge recommended by engineering firm Stantec, which are not a permanent solution to the bridge issue, but with care, will give the city five years or so of use while the city saves the money that a complete bridge replacement will cost.

“This road is not a truck route, but we still have trucks violating that every day. A new no trucks sign will go up,” Gibson said. “We had to spend $660,000 out of our reserves that we did not have budgeted to repair that bridge. We are going to write tickets (to people who drive 18-wheelers over that bridge.) That $1,000 will come in handy. We will put that money back in the reserve account.”

Aldermen approved a new ordinance allowing Natchez Police officers to write $1,000 tickets to anyone who drives an 18-wheeler over the Canal Street bridge.

In another roadway issue, Gibson said the city, Volkert Engineering, APAC Asphalt, and the contractor on the Homochitto and Canal Street paving projects continue to meet to plan the next steps in correcting problems on those streets.

“We have an 11-page report dealing with areas that need to be re-milled and new asphalt applied, as well as areas that have not been completed,” he said. “There is a disagreement on what engineers say needs to be done on those streets and what the contractor is willing to do.

“Don’t think anyone is more concerned than this mayor and board,” Gibson said.

Rebidding the project would take 60 days and would be a roll of the dice as to whether new bids would come within budget and would only stretch out the completion of the project.

“APAC has already admitted to supplying faulty mix, and contractors have admitted to areas where they need to correct. We are meeting a lot on this,” he said.

Gibson said he would give updates on the situation as updates are available.