PIXABAY
The Mississippi River reopened to vessel traffic near Memphis, TN, on Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard said, ending a shutdown of part of the waterway that caused a backlog of more than 1,000 barges carrying oil, corn and other goods.
Reuters reports the Coast Guard said the river is open to all vessel traffic without restrictions, after traffic was halted on Tuesday because of a fracture in the Hernando DeSoto Bridge that carries cars and trucks on Interstate 40 over the river.
The reopening will begin to ease a jam of 62 vessels with 1,058 barges that were waiting to pass through the closed area, according to the Coast Guard.
