STYX RIVER, Ala. — Although the “Steel Bridge” on County Road 68 North going across Styx River in central Baldwin County north of Interstate 10 has been repaired and was opened back up to traffic on Thursday, the investigation into who vandalized it back in November is still ongoing, according to Loxley Police Department officials.

Joey Nunnally, construction engineer for the Baldwin County Highway Department, said the $2 million bridge project as a whole is about three weeks away from being completed.

“We still have to put down another layer of asphalt, do some more dirt work and complete the guardrail as well as remove the old bridge and roadway. We had 450 days to complete it and we are on about day 350 right now. I know the people around there are really ecstatic about having it complete and being able to use it again,” Nunnally said.

The project was originally budgeted for $2.3 million and the funding was acquired through two different bonds, Nunnally said, and it looks like they will be coming in under budget at $2 million.

Racon Inc. is the general contractor for the bridge, while Delta Civil has been doing the dirt work, H & L , out of Troy is doing the guardrail and P &H Construction of Mobile is doing the piling work, Nunnally said.

According to a press release at the time of the incident in November, someone gained access to an excavator tractor located at the construction site, and proceeded to tear away a wooden portion of the south side of the bridge from the roadway making the road impassable. Construction crews have been working for several months at this site to replace the bridge with a new one.

Loxley Police Lt. Doug Phillips said the incident appeared to be intentional and if caught, the involved party or parties would face a felony charge of some sort like reckless endangerment or criminal mischief.

“This person obviously had to have knowledge about how to operate the equipment. The keys for this type of tractor are universal and anyone who works in the construction field would have access to them,” Phillips said.

At the time, with only concrete pilings up at the new bridge, there is no way for the 60 plus families living in the area by Old Brady Road to get across the river from either side, Phillips said, and they had to travel 40 or so miles up to Bay Minette to get out of the area.

While the investigation is still ongoing, anyone who has any information can contact the Loxley PD at 251-964-6000.