A contractor will be chosen today for the construction of a new bridge on Beitner Road.
The road has been closed after it washed out during a flooding event in April.
Since the washout, about 18,000 vehicles that would have passed over the bridge every day have been forced to find other ways around.
The Grand Traverse County Road Commission hopes to complete the project before the end of this year, but it doesn't control the timeline.
Since MDOT is funding 80% of the bridge replacement project, MDOT will be choosing the contractor to do the work.
According to Dan Watkins, manager for Grand Traverse County Road Commission, "MDOT did not look at [the timeline] as a weighted factor."
Watkins says everything is in place for the work to begin, he's just hoping the winning contractor is ready to go as well.
"There are some that sound like they can get it done before the first of the year," he said. "So we're hopeful that they're one of the winning bidders."
Details on the construction timeline will be available sometime next week.
Many of the 18,000 vehicles per day detouring around Beitner Rd are now taking South Airport.
Next week Tuesday and Wednesday, both South Airport and Cass Rd. will be down to one lane of traffic near the intersection while the department of public works repairs a sewer main break.
