KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Motorists who use the U.S. 25-70 bridge over the French Broad River at Newport will need to take another route on Wednesday.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation says the bridge will be closed for the day for routine inspection.
The steel truss bridge was opened in 1932, and weight is limited to 10 tons. It must be closed to allow for the weight of the inspection vehicles.
All traffic will be halted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
TDOT says traffic has increased on the bridge because local drivers have been using it as part of a detour around a massive North Carolina rockslide that occurred in October.