South Summit Bridge to Close Friday Morning For Flood Drill

The South Summit Street bridge across the Arkansas River will be partially closed Friday morning for a practice exercise related to river flooding procedures.

The partial closure will occur from 8 a.m. to around noon for this exercise. Both northbound lanes will be closed, as well as one southbound lane. A pilot car will direct traffic across the remaining open lane.

The purpose of the exercise is to practice deployment of stop-logs across U.S. 77 to complete the gap in the levee. During a severe flooding situation, they are used to protect the city from rising water.

The City of Arkansas City is required to practice stop-log deployment at least once every five years.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be present to observe the deployment exercise.

For more information, contact Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Frazee at (620) 441-4454 or email bfrazee@arkansascityks.gov.