DONALDSONVILLE – The Sunshine Bridge reopened to traffic at approximately 3:45 p.m. Sunday after being hit by a tanker ship earlier in the afternoon, authorities said.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Louisiana Department of Transportation  inspected the scene and closed the bridge to traffic after it was struck just before 2 p.m.

Investigation revealed there was no structural damage to the bridge and only minor damage to the pier.

The bridge, which crosses the Mississippi River, was previously closed in October after it was struck by a barge. One lane in each direction reopened in December following emergency maintenance work.