Work resumed Thursday to demolish the old iron bridge in Fieldale.

The bridge, which crosses the Smith River, is being taken down so that a safer bridge can be constructed. Work on the demolition was temporarily halted Tuesday after a group of local residents appealed to the Virginia Department of Transportation to delay the work until after the annual Fieldale Heritage Festival, which will be held May 16.

On Wednesday, VDOT officials said they chose not to do that based on safety factors and a delay in the construction of a replacement bridge if the demolition remained suspended.

On Thursday, workers took up a sidewalk that ran along one side of the bridge, said Lisa Hughes, VDOT