Corn and soybeans are on barges headed down the Mississippi River once again, thanks to a decision by the U.S. Coast Guard to reopen the Hernando de Soto Bridge between Memphis, Tenn., and Arkansas.
The bridge on Interstate 40 was closed on Tuesday after a crack was discovered in a steel beam during a routine, federally mandated inspection that occurs about every two years.
After review on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said river traffic was safe to resume and reopened the bridge, according to a press release.
As of Friday, there were 62 vessels and 1,058 barges in the queue, the release said.
