HELMSBURG — It looks like it’s ready to open, but some work still has to be done before traffic can cross the Lick Creek bridge on State Road 45, the Indiana Department of Transportation says.

INDOT spokesman Harry Maginity said Oct. 20 that the contractor would not give a firm opening date, but Maginity agreed with the rough estimate that Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner gave at the Oct. 19 commissioners meeting, which was probably within the next week or two.

Work not done yet included sealing the new bridge, striping the pavement and putting up guardrails, Maginity said. The contractor will not open the bridge while workers still have jobs to do that require them to be out in traffic, he said.

Weather, such as the torrential rain this week, could still cause delays, Maginity said.

The bridge has been closed since May 23. The original estimate for it to reopen was late August or mid-September, but in mid-September, the estimate was pushed to Thanksgiving.