BISMARCK, N.D. ( KXNET ) — Right now, drivers in Bismarck and Mandan are encountering more orange cones before they get to the bridge over the Missouri River.

Work has begun to repave and repair joints along the Grant Marsh Bridge along I-94.

That means drivers are reduced to two lanes east and west as workers continue with the second of four phases of the job.

The Grant Marsh bridge was built in 1965 but this is one of the first times it’s getting a major overhaul.

State transportation spokespeople say they hope the $16 million project will extend the life of the bridge by several more years.

“Some of the problems that we’ve had with the bridge is the finger joints, you know, the public probably realized that as they go over them, they hear a banging sound,” NDDOT Assistant District Engineer Dean Schloss said. “So, we’re going to fix finger joints, we’ve got some spalls we’re fixing, and then we’re also working on the approach slabs, they’ve been kind of deteriorating over the years, so it should be a smoother bridge when we’re done, the public should realize the difference.”

A construction supervisor KX News spoke with on Thursday says the goal is to finish the work in mid-October.

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