Crews have started the process of repairing and restoring the historic Bostick Road Bridge.

The project began Friday with the lifting of the 45-ton steel bridge off the abutments utilizing large cranes with 140-foot boom heights.

The project consists of the rehabilitation of the existing single-span bridge – including new steel members, bridge decking and bridge painting – in order to provide for the preservation of this historical structure.  Upon completion of the project, the bridge will be utilized as a pedestrian way across the St Mary’s River at its present location.

Beaty Construction, Inc. of Boggstown, Indiana received a notice to proceed by the Indiana Department of Transportation on April 10 after submitting a bid of $1.13 million.  Funding for the project comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The scheduled completion date for the project is October 30.  Bostick Road is currently closed and will remain closed during construction.