IRONTON — As part of its regular maintenance program, the Ironton-Russell Bridge will undergo a series of inspections in the coming weeks, requiring a single-day, daytime closure and intermittent lane restrictions.

On Thursday, the bridge will be closed from approximately 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in order for crews from the University of Cincinnati Infrastructure Institute to place beam markers for load testing that will be conducted the week after.

While the bridge is closed, traffic will be detoured by way of U.S. Route 52 and the Ashland, Ky., twin bridges east of Coal Grove.

Then on April 7 and 8, the UCII team will return to the bridge to conduct the load testing, which will measure truck loads to assess and confirm the load rating analysis for the bridge.

Throughout both days, the bridge will remain open to traffic; however, it will be restricted in a rolling operation at various intervals from 2 to 4 p.m. to allow for the load tests.

Along with other regularly scheduled inspections, these tests are part of the department’s maintenance and research program for bridges maintained by ODOT.

For information on additional lane and road closures caused by construction, accidents, flooding or other related traffic events throughout the state, visit Buckeye Traffic on ODOT’s web site at www.buckeyetraffic.org.