The bridge beams have made their way across the span of the new Main Street bridge, which replaces the old viaduct bridge, and the project is still on schedule to be finished in November, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

Crews have been placing the beams last week and this week and the next step, which will take a couple of weeks, is for them to start placing steel and concrete webbing across the beams, said MnDOT spokesman Brian Jergensen.

Workers have also been busy installing retaining walls on the sides of the upward slopes leading to the bridge.

Meanwhile, the second stage of the project is set to begin in the second week in August. That phase will be maintenance and repair on a second railroad bridge, just west of the old viaduct, and the work will close traffic on that stretch, meaning Front Street will become a detour for virtually all of Main Street between Broadway Avenue and Highway 65.

The new bridge that replaces the viaduct will be four lanes wide.

Also later this summer, crews will install a traffic light at the junction of Main and First Avenue, at the foot of the new bridge. Drivers should be able to cross Main Street on First Avenue during most of the construction, although there may be a lane closure as crews work on the intersection, said City Engineer Dave Olson.

&uot;We know it’s an inconvenience, but I think everyone’s going to be pleased with the final product,&uot; Jergensen said.