(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Work to prepare a new levee gate has traffic on U.S. 50 experiencing a major backup.

The Lawrenceburg Conservancy District is overseeing the construction of the new automatic flood gate across eastbound U.S. 50 at Tanners Creek in Lawrenceburg. The contractor is custom fitting the 110,000 pound gate as it is readied for final inspection.

U.S. 50 eastbound traffic is being consolidated to one lane and shifted into a single lane on the new westbound flyover Tanners Creek bridge.

Drivers report eastbound traffic becoming congested more than two miles to Aurora.

The conservancy district says another eastbound closure will be necessary on Tuesday, Jan. 4 as the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers performs a final inspection on the levee gate. Traffic will be shifted from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.