The Grand Traverse County Road Commission announced that the Beitner Bridge replacement project is officially moving into the construction phase.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) awarded the construction contract to Anlaan Corporation on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in restoring this critical transportation corridor. A pre-construction meeting was held on Thursday, with representatives from MDOT, Anlaan Corporation, and the Grand Traverse County Road Commission to finalize project coordination and prepare for construction.

The contractor is expected to mobilize to the project site and begin delivering materials during the week of August 3, with active construction anticipated to begin around August 10.

"This project represents a major step forward for our community. Beitner Bridge serves nearly 20,000 motorists every day, and we know how important re-opening this route is to the traveling public. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we work with Anlaan Corporation to safely complete this project and restore this vital connection," GTCRC Manager Dan Watkins said in a statement.

Throughout construction, the project area will remain an active work zone. For the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and construction crews, the public is asked to obey all posted road closures, detours, and traffic control devices and to remain outside of the work area.

Current project schedules indicate that Beitner Bridge is expected to reopen to traffic before the end of 2026.