(KLZA)--With a bridge rehabilitation project on the Missouri River Bridge on U.S. Highway 36 at St. Joseph, traffic has been narrowed to a 12-foot wide lane in each direction.

The narrow lanes present a problem to businesses and large equipment operators needing to move wide loads across the bridge.

The Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Highway Patrol and River Bend Ag Services of Wathena have worked on a solution to the problem.

Any parties that need to move a load wider than 12-feet across the Missouri River Bridge at St. Joseph should contact the Missouri Highway Patrol at 816-387-2345 or Zach Emmendorfer at River Bend Ag Services at 785-989-2128. Emmendorfer and the State Patrol will work together to coordinate movement of the wide vehicles in the early morning hours, one or two days per week as needed.

Phase One of the bridge rehab project will continue through July 18 with Phase Two scheduled for July 18 through December 1, 2022.

MoDOT and the Missouri Highway Patrol are committed to working with local businesses, the agriculture industry and freight traffic to keep commerce flowing across the vital bridge.

During the project, loads wider than 12-feet will only be moved across the bridge under the direction of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.