According to the original timeline, work to replace the Cherry Street Bridge in Mt. Carmel was to have been completed this past Saturday. The project is now running three weeks behind schedule and Mayor Joe Judge says that has caused a change in the way the contractor, Sierra Bravo of Sesser, Illinois, will proceed from here…

On Friday’s “Ask The Mayor” segment, Judge said some of the delays can be contributed to Sierra Bravo locating enough dirt to fill the chasm where the former bridge was located. He said much of the dirt has come from local residents who are digging new ponds on their property. Another delay occurred last week when vibrations from the work caused a water main to break.