State officials say federal regulations could delay plans to demolish an 80-year-old bridge on U.S. Route 2 in Middlesex that was closed last week.
But Vermont Transportation Agency officials say it shouldn’t prevent a temporary replacement bridge from being ready for use by Labor Day.
Agency spokesman John Zicconi says that due to the bridge’s historic nature it must be offered for sale for 30 days in case someone wants to save it.
He says the extra time shouldn’t delay the replacement of the bridge by too long because the agency still has to chose a contractor, which could take several weeks.
Work on a permanent replacement bridge is to begin in 2010.