Traffic on the newly reopened Washington Street bridge was reduced to one lane just before noon Monday after shifts of pavement up to 6 inches were reported in the concrete about 50 yards south of the bridge that tops a giant railroad tunnel.

The bridge was reopened to cars and trucks two weeks ago, on Feb. 13, after being closed since January 2009. The construction, a project of Kansas City Southern Railway contracted to Kanza Construction of Topeka, Kan., cost $8.6 million.

On opening day, Vicksburg Mayor Paul Winfied said, “This will last for 100 years.”

On Monday, Winfield stood on the bridge and said, “ We ask everyone for their patience, and we are going to work hard to get it rectified.”

He said soil samples were to be taken near the retaining wall west of Washington Street, which appears to have been damaged in the settlement of the soil.