MEMPHIS, Tennessee —
For the second time in less than a week, a temporary closure of lanes on the I-55 bridge in Memphis Wednesday morning for a police situation caused major traffic backups and headaches.
"Any kind of disruption on the I-55 bridge is an extreme setback," Dr. John Gnuschke, a Memphis economist, said.
That gridlock during the morning commute came after a big rig fire shutdown I-55 southbound lanes Sunday night near that bridge.
For now, it's the only Mississippi River crossing in Memphis open during the I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge's indefinite closure for major repairs.
"They're not cut off - but in fact they could be by any accident, okay, on that old bridge, so it's an extremely delicate situation, makes risks much higher," Dr. Gnuschke said.
The longtime economist said the longer the I-40 bridge is closed, costs on everyday goods will go up and profits for companies such as Memphis-based FedEx will go down.
"We need this economy to bounce back and we need it to bounce back and we don't need disruptions caused by a bridge," Dr. Gnuschke said.
Thursday, U.S Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be in Memphis to provide updates on the I-40 bridge work and meet with FedEx leaders about the impact of moving goods while it's closed.
"FedEx is the engine that drives Memphis, so whatever happens to FedEx happens to Memphis," Dr. Gnuschke said
He's hopeful Sec. Buttigieg while in town goes on record about another topic gaining steam locally.
"If there's ever a good time for the third bridge, it's right now," Dr. Gnuschke said.
Wednesday, the Arkansas Trucking Association said the I-55 bridge now averages more than 66,000 vehicles a day, compared to the 45,000 before the I-40 bridge closure.
The ATA said their drivers are taking on additional expenses with longer travel, including those forced to re-route around Memphis entirely.