NORWAY – Replacing the Beal Street Bridge is turning out to be a bigger project than town officials thought it would be, Town Manager David Holt said Friday.

“It will be well into the month of July” before the bridge replacement is complete, Holt said.

When town crews began work on the bridge a few weeks ago, they found out that the rock walls under the bridge would need to be replaced.

“The rocks were coming loose,” and it was clear the walls wouldn’t stand up to the new bridge, Holt said.

The town’s Highway Department, which is doing the work, has installed temporary cofferdams to divert the water of Tannery Brook while the wall work is being done. Concrete T-walls are being lowered in sections to replace the rock walls.

The need for the T-walls will add another $60,000 to the project, which will cost about $100,000 in total to complete, Holt said.

While the town is doing the bridge work, K & K Construction of Turner is installing masonry on catch basins and putting in curbing along the entire length of Beal Street. When complete, the street will have new underground sewer and water lines, new sidewalks, and a new bicycle lane.

“It’s a pretty inclusive project,” said Holt, noting that utility companies are also transferring wires on new poles. “When it’s done there will have been a lot of investment on this road.”

Work has also begun on the bridge at the base of Pike’s Hill. T. Buck Construction Inc. of Auburn closed the base of the hill June 12, after being awarded a $460,000 contract for the work from the Maine Department of Transportation.

Holt said T. Buck told the town that the bridge will be closed until Sept. 6.