JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) – Flooding along the Ohio River has temporarily halted work on a new bridge that will link Jeffersonville, Indiana, and downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

Ohio River Bridges Project spokeswoman Mindy Peterson tells the News and Tribune the high waters forced crews to halt work last week on the bridge's central tower and the tower closest to Indiana's riverbanks.

Contractor Walsh Construction removed equipment from a riverside causeway and crane-bearing barges are now anchored near the shoreline.

The McAlpine Upper Gauge stood at just above 24.5 feet Monday afternoon. Peterson says workers will be kept off the towers until that gauge's water level falls to 17 feet or less.

She says that despite the flooding delay, the new bridge remains on schedule for completion by the target opening date of January 2016.