New Town, North Dakota -

Demolition of the old Four Bears Bridge that has spanned the Missouri River west of here for 50 years is set for Today.

A new $55.4 million bridge - the largest bridge project in state history - opened for traffic Sept. 2.

The Three Affiliated Tribes said blasting work on the old bridge will begin at 1 p.m. Monday. The Four Bears Water Treatment Plant will shut down during the work to ensure water quality, and the tribe is asking members to keep water use to a minimum.

The old bridge, which was dedicated in October 1955, was replaced because it was unsuitable for modern traffic.

The new bridge took two years to build. A formal dedication is set for Oct. 3.