Beginning at 8 a.m. this morning, the Jackson Street bridge across from Collins Communications will be closed for repairs as the Alabama Bridge Company works on the understructure of the bridge. Those repairs are expected to take about 3 to 4 weeks.

According to City of Demopolis public works director Mike Baker, the repairs are a result of the Alabama Department of Transportation’s evaluation of the bridge.

“This is something that was approved by the previous council,” he said. “This is just the time that the construction is beginning.

“We hope that the construction will take only 15 to 20 days, but the contract for the construction lasts for 30 days. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we’ll have the bridge open as soon as the repairs are made.”

Baker said that the understructure of the bridge, including the supports and bearings will be repaired. He said he did not know when the bridge was last repaired, but that the understructure had deteriorated over the last 10 to 15 years.

Detours for Jackson Street will be set up at Lamar Drive next to Collins Communications and at Griffin Street next to the Jackson Street Cemetery. However, those wanting to get from one end of Jackson Street to the other may want to use another street altogether, such as U.S. Highway 80 or Herbert Street.

One possible route for those going from the west end of Jackson Street to the downtown area would be to take Jackson Street to Collins Communications, turn right on Lamar Avenue, then left onto Phil Harper Drive at the private pool. Take Phil Harper to Herbert Street and turn left. Take Herbert to the end and turn left onto Main Avenue (traffic cannot turn right). Turn right on Rembert Street, then turn left onto Walnut Avenue and take that into town.

Traffic going from the east end of Jackson Street to the west end could go south on Walnut Avenue past McDonald’s, then take the one-way curve onto Main Avenue, turning left onto Herbert Street. Take Herbert to the split with Phil Harper, turning right onto Phil Harper. Turn right at the private pool onto Lamar Drive, then turn left on Jackson Street.