NATCHEZ — A temporary lane closure will be placed on the outside lane of the westbound Mississippi River Bridge Monday.

Mississippi Department of Transportation spokesman Michael Flood said the lane closure is necessary for the contractor, CEC Incorporated, to make inspections and verify dimensions for the upcoming pin and link replacement on the bridge, which is anticipated to begin in May.

Mayor Butch Brown said MDOT would handle the upcoming pin and link replacement and will be led by MDOT district engineer Albert White.

“(White) has been very cooperative in outlining what they plan to do,” Brown said.

Brown said although the bridge has operated successfully with the current pinning, replacing the pin and links would assure safety.

“It makes a lot of safety sense to keep the bridge in good shape,” Brown said.

On the following Tuesday, the lane closure will be switched to the inside lane of the bridge.

A lane closure may be placed Wednesday if required by CEC Incorporated, Flood said.

The lane closures will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be a wide-load restriction of a maximum of 11 feet during the lane closure period.

Once the pin and links in the westbound bridge are replaced, Brown said the bridge would receive a fresh coat of paint.

MDOT Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King, Brown said, organized the repainting project with executive director Melinda McGrath.

To find out the latest information regarding the lane closures, sign up for traffic alerts at MDOTtraffic.com.