Completion on the Cut River Bridge repair project to replace structural steel, pour new concrete, and install new railings is being delayed until the end of October owing to unforeseen complications and delays, said project manager Pete Paramski, a delivery engineer with the Michigan Department of Transportation stationed at the Transportation Service Center in Newberry.

The project was delayed last summer when engineers determined that steel beams were not strong enough to hold the weight of the concrete and construction equipment. Mr. Paramski said delivery of the new beams this summer took longer than expected and pushed back the rest of the project.

New concrete on the 641-foot span was poured last week, with the final section poured Monday evening, August 31. Mr. Paramski said the concrete needs time to cure before it will be ready for steady traffic. Over the next 1.5 months, construction crews will install and paint new railings on the bridge.

He said the original $3.1 million project is about 11% over budget. Once completed, the new bridge is expected to last about 40 years before it will have to be replaced.

"We've had a significant cost increase," he said. "It was just a handful of little things that got us behind schedule."