In two days, hundreds of residents living just outside of Rocky Mount on Virginia 840 will have a new bridge.

Starting this morning, workers will try to quickly replace the bridge that connects Diamond Avenue to Virginia 840 in Franklin County.

Town and county officials were alarmed earlier this week when the Virginia Department of Transportation inspected the bridge and posted a 3 ton weight limit because of its age and deteriorating conditions.

County Supervisor Charles Wagner said the new weight limit would prohibit vehicles such as school buses and fire trucks from crossing the bridge. That's a problem, he said, because the bridge is the only route in and out of that area. Crews will work constantly and expect to have the bridge finished early Friday, according to a news release issued by the county and the town.

The town, county and VDOT were able to quickly come up with a plan to replace the bridge that serves subdivisions along six streets including Circle View Street, Highland Hills Road, Emerald Lane, Ruby Lane, Power Line Road and Greer Park Road. Town, county and VDOT officials are hoping no snags occur during the replacement that would cause problems getting in or out of the affected areas.

The replacement will cost about $20,000. Materials will be paid for by the town and VDOT will pay other projected costs and it secured extra steel beams from projects in the Staunton area.

"Installing a replacement steel-and-timber bridge is an interim fix," said Rocky Mount Town Manager James Ervin.

"We will work with VDOT and the county to identify and fund better solutions in the long run, with an eye toward making a second entry point into town available to residents of this area," he said.

Traffic delays are expected as construction workers move traffic through one lane.