UPDATE:
A bridge that had been closed after it was struck by a dredging boat has reopened.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation said at 10:20 a.m. that the Arkansas 59 bridge over the Arkansas River has reopened to vehicle traffic.
It had been shut pending a safety inspection. The span was hit by the boat before 9 a.m.
EARLIER:
A bridge over the Arkansas River near Fort Smith is closed after a dredging boat hit the span on Thursday morning.
A spokesman with the Department of Emergency Management said it happened before 9 a.m. and that the Arkansas 59 bridge in Barling remained shut just before 10 a.m. An Arkansas Department of Transportation crew was expected to inspect the integrity of the span to see if it can reopen to vehicle traffic.
The Arkansas Online live traffic map showed a significant backup in the area