The US-2 Cut River Bridge work is finished for this construction season, and the bridge is open.

The detour for the project, on Cut River Road, was lifted Friday, October 17, after the bridge was prepared and made safe for traffic.

During this construction season, crews modified the existing bridge to enable removal of the bridge deck and to handle construction loads. Also completed were the repair of some substructure components and a partial painting of the substructure, the state highway department reported.

While the bridge deck replacement project was originally scheduled to be completed in a single construction season, it was discovered that the bridge required additional structural steel reinforcement that was not originally anticipated.

When load limits are lifted on the detour route in the spring, anticipated for late April or early May, crews will resume work on the bridge. The concrete bridge deck, bridge approaches, and railings will be replaced.

The final completion date for the bridge is August 29, 2009.

Once the detour is lifted next year, crews will repave the Cut River Road detour route. That work is scheduled to be completed by October 31, 2009.

The roadside parks located at each end of the Cut River Bridge will remain closed until the bridge reopens to traffic next year.