By STEVE KNOX - Times Staff
The bridge replacement on both Highway 77 and Highway 140, which was to have begun Monday, Sept. 23, has been pushed back to Tuesday, Oct. 1, according to Logan Hardin with the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Hardin disclosed in an email distributed Monday morning, the decision to postpone the bridge work had been reached due to the potential for more additional and possible heavy rain forecast from a Tropical system which could impact the area later this week.
Also impacting the decision was the length of time it took the rivers and ditches to fall after the remnants of Hurricane Francine moved out of the area.
The closures will last 20 days and the situation might warrant the start date being pushed back further, until the contractor thinks they can manage the water.
The bridges effected are on Highway 77 South of Manila and on Highway140 between Osceola and Keiser.