Expect I-10 traffic delays near Mississippi-Louisiana state line for more than a month. Here’s why.

Westbound traffic on Highway 90 was at a standstill near Pearlington Wednesday night as drivers slowly made their way toward Interstate 10 at the Mississippi-Louisiana state line.

It took 45 minutes to get from Waveland to Pearlington — a usual 10-minute drive — at 5:30 p.m. Many drivers got frustrated with the wait and turned around at Mississippi 604. Periodic congestion in the area could last for more than a month.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation said lane closures on westbound I-10 near the Mississippi-Louisiana state line will last until Aug. 11 while repairs are made on the East Pearl River Bridge.

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The lane closures will be temporary, MDOT said, and drivers can check interactive traffic maps for updates in real-time over the next month as repairs continue.

The area is already plagued by heavy rush hour congestion, especially since the “back way” to Louisiana through Pearlington is now impassable due to a bridge closure.

The delays could affect Mississippi Coast residents who work at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, as well as those who commute to Slidell, Covington or the New Orleans area.

The East Pearl River Bridge has been the site of many crashes and traffic snarls for more than a year, including a fiery wreck involving an 18-wheeler hauling BMWs.