Work was slated to begin Monday on a bridge southwest of Walker that is being constructed using stimulus funds, according to the local Kansas Department of Transportation office.

"Part of the county road will be realigned to connect with the new bridge," construction engineer John Riggins said in a press release. "While the work is going on, folks will have to find alternate routes around the construction."

The bridge is located 5.6 miles south and 0.8 miles west of Walker on Antonino Road.

Ellis County was awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to reconstruct the steel-truss bridge. Since construction bids came in well below estimates, Ellis County does not have a local match on the construction phase of the project, which was bid at $391,317.

Work should be complete by summer.