A section of Jackson Street will be closed Wednesday, August 23 due to bridge inspections from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The closure stretches from Maria Avenue to Griffin Street for the bridge inspections by the Alabama Department of Transportation of Montgomery who will be bringing a special truck to test the structural integrity of the brides on Jackson Street.

“I know it’s a lot of school traffic going on during that part of the day, but that’s when they can get here with the truck so we scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday,” said Mike Baker, Demopolis Public Works Manager of Projects. “We’re blocking it off to keep any traffic off of that truck, so we won’t have to provide any unnecessary personnel out there while they are inspecting.

Baker said that he made the decision to close the roads based on a suggestion by Demopolis Director of Public Safety and Police Chief Tommie Reese.

In a press release, Reese urges drivers to use an alternate travel route during the inspection time period.

While the inspection is part of a yearly inspection, one of the bridges on Jackson Street is due for replacement. This inspection will check the health of that bridge.

(This article originally appeared in the Saturday, August 19, print edition of the Demopolis Times.)