With just one arch sticking out of the St. Joseph River, the Main Street Bridge looks more like an island than a structure that allowed people to cross the water for more than 90 years.

The first arch came down in early January, just a few months after the $10.6 million Michigan Department of Transportation project to replace the bridge began in October.

Joe Ray, director of public works for the City of Niles, has been attending regular meetings with those in charge of tearing down the old bridge and building a new one.

He said Anlann construction is still on track to finish sometime in November as was originally projected.

“They are on schedule,” Ray said. “Some of the abutments are fully removed and they are talking about moving and adjusting cofferdams and pier removal… they are really moving along.”

Construction workers, Ray said, expect to begin building the new bridge sometime in April.

“They hope maybe the latter part of this week or early next week that the last arch that is standing will be gone,” he said.

MDOT representatives have said that the new bridge will improve safety for motorists and pedestrians with wider lanes, and sidewalks and lookouts on both sides of the bridge.

The current bridge was built in 1919 and rehabilitated in 1996. It is the fourth bridge to span the St. Joseph River at Main Street in Niles.