Highway 191 north of Morenci to close evenings of March 10 and 11 for bridge repair work

File Photo By Walt Mares: The Coronado Bridge north of Morenci has reopened.

File Photo By Walt Mares: The Coronado Bridge north of Morenci will be closed the evenings of March 10 and 11 for repair.

Contributed Article/Courtesy ADOT

MORENCI – Motorists who travel on U.S. Highway 191 between Morenci and Alpine should plan for closures the evenings of Tuesday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 11, for repairs to a bridge abutment at the Morenci Mine.

The highway will close just north of Morenci between mileposts 169 and 171 while repairs are underway. The closure is scheduled Tuesday, March 10, from 6 – 10 p.m., and again on Wednesday, March 11, from 7 – 11 p.m.

In the time between the closures, U.S. Highway 191 will be open with a weight restriction of 30,000 pounds.

Drivers traveling between Morenci and Alpine who are unable to wait for the road to reopen each evening will need to take U.S. Highway 191 south from Morenci to Three Way, follow SR 78 east into New Mexico to U.S. Highway 180, and follow U.S. Highway 180 north to Alpine.

The bridge repairs are being performed by crews with Freeport McMoRan, which built the bridge and operates the mine. A recent inspection identified the need for repairs.