Coast Guard reopens river to traffic at Caruthersville

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Coast Guard says it is reopening a portion of the Mississippi River to barge traffic after closing it over concerns that the wake from vessels would top flood walls.

The Coast Guard said it would reopen the 5-mile stretch of the swollen river near the Missouri town of Caruthersville on Friday, but didn't give a specific time. The Coast Guard had closed the stretch earlier in the day, fearing that vessel wakes would top the city's front flood wall.

The Coast Guard says it decided to allow limited commercial traffic after the National Weather Service lowered the projected crest at Caruthersville to 48.1 feet from 49.5 feet.

Capt. Michael Gardiner of the Coast Guard says in a news release that river monitoring will continue and that navigation will be restricted when necessary.