South Fork bridge repairs start Tuesday
The first vehicles go over the South Fork Bridge last year after the dedication ceremony.
Crews will start work repairing the deck on the U.S. Highway 2 South Fork of the Flathead River Bridge starting Tuesday.
The new $13.2 million bridge, which was completed last fall, has footprints in its concrete deck where crews walked on it during the final phase of construction last year.
As such, those areas will have to be replaced.
Before concrete was able to completely harden, footprints were made by crews laying blankets to prevent the deck from freezing, MDT said in a release last year.
Great Falls contractor Sletten Construction will cover the cost of the repairs — no taxpayer dollars will be involved to correct the damage, MDT said at the time.
The bridge will remain open to two-way traffic during the repairs.
Two-way traffic crossing the new bridge will be shifted into two, delineated, 12-foot wide lanes adjacent to the bridge barrier rail, while crews conduct repair work on the bridge deck surface within closed work area.
Motorists are reminded to watch for signs, workers and equipment in the area and travel at posted speeds until signs indicate the work zone has ended. Fines double in work zones.
The work is expected to last through mid-October.