Drivers going from Colorado Highway 119 in between Interstate 25 and Longmont will have to wait until at least May before traffic is back to normal.

The slowdown stems from a construction project being done to replace the eastbound bridge over the St. Vrain River. The project began Jan. 21 and has forced a reduction of the speed limit from 65 mph to 45 mph in some areas.

Monte Malik, CDOT's project engineer, said the new bridge will open sometime in mid- to late may.

According to press releases from CDOT, the original bridge was built in 1954 and was drastic need of replacement. It was identified as of Colorado's 122 structurally deficient bridges in 2006 by the US Department of Transportation.

The bridge that goes over the river for westbound traffic is in good condition and not in need of repair, according to CDOT.

The total cost for the project is $2.9 million.

Malik said weather has pushed the project's schedule back a week, but all road crews should be off of the highway by the end of July.

The new bridge will be approximately 30 feet longer and 12 feet wider than the bridge it is replacing, according to Malik's estimates.

The bridge will be wider to accommodate a future third lane on the highway for westbound traffic. Malik said a third lane would not open when the bridge opens and could be "years down the road."