CHESTERVILLE – Work on a bridge spanning Norridgewock Stream on Pope Road is scheduled to begin Monday, but the road may not be closed in that area just yet.

The tentative dates for that section of the road, located off Route 156 and Dutch Gap Road, are from Monday, Aug. 4, to Monday, Aug. 18.

But that may change due to high waters caused by recent heavy rains, said Brian Luce, project manager with the contractor, N. F. Luce Inc., of Anson.

Luce and company owner Norman Luce, along with Maine Department of Transportation resident engineer Mike Pelletier were at the site Wednesday looking at their options to replace rusted culverts.

The contract price for the project is $330,000, Brian Luce said.

It consists of removing two existing steel culverts that have rusted and replacing them with one single aluminum culvert.

Steel culverts are stronger but aluminum culverts last longer, Luce said.

The existing culverts are 14 feet in diameter and 50 feet long and the new culvert will be 21 feet wide, 15 feet tall and 85 feet long.

Construction may begin next but the road may not close until the following Monday, Aug. 11, Pelletier said.

Norman Luce said the signs have been posted with the original dates of closing and people should prepare for it.

The detour plan is Route 156 to Valley Road, Pelletier said.