Panola Ave. will be closed to traffic today (Oct. 18) from 8 a.m. until work is completed by the City of Batesville about 2 p.m.

All southbound traffic should use Viney Creek Rd., and northbound traffic can use Bright or MLK Streets.

City workers will be replacing an 18-inch culvert, some 90 feet long, about where the Fire Department’s training facility is. The culvert has collapsed at places, and will be replaced in preparation for the planned repaving of that portion of Panola Ave.

Public Works Director David Karr said the crews will start when school buses have all passed, and be finished before the afternoon routes begin to minimize traffic backups.