Next week, the Murray Morgan Bridge will be raised and locked in an upright position to allow marine traffic to travel under the bridge. This will close the bridge to pedestrian traffic indefinitely. To prevent unauthorized access to the raised lift span, fences will be installed on both sides of the bridge this week. The stairway from Dock Street will remain open. In December 2010, the machinery used to raise and lower the bridge sustained extreme wire theft and motor damage which left it inoperable. Planning for the rehabilitation of the Murray Morgan Bridge is under way. Phase 1 of the repair, which will allow the historic bridge to re-open to vehicle traffic with one lane in each direction, is scheduled to start this spring. For more information about the Murray Morgan Bridge, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/mmb .