A small portion of Galley Road will close on Monday for the remainder of the year as crews replace the aging bridge over the west fork of Sand Creek.

The 59-year-old bridge needs to be replaced because it is too narrow for the existing five-lane roadway and is prone to flooding, according to the project webpage.

The new structure will better accommodate “high-flow” water events in the creek, improving traffic flow and reliability by reducing the potential for storm water to flow over top of the canal and close Galley Road, according to the project webpage.

The new bridge will be about 20 feet wider than the current structure, enhancing safety by providing two travel lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, an 8-foot sidewalk on the north side of the bridge and a 10-foot sidewalk on its south side.

Additionally, the project includes installation of a new pedestrian-activated signal at the Homestead Trail connection at the bridge’s east end.

Ryan Phipps, Colorado Springs’ capital improvements manager and engineering program manager, said the work is expected to cost around $4 million.

Funding for the bridge replacement and associated channel work comes from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority’s 1-cent sales tax that pays for regional road projects. Colorado Springs Utilities is paying for the water main work, he said.

Galley Road will be closed between East San Miguel Street and Moffat Circle for eight months. The closure is weather-dependent and the construction schedule is subject to change, Colorado Springs officials said in a news release Friday.

During the closure, crews will relocate utilities and replace a Colorado Springs Utilities water pipeline as well as replace the existing bridge.

Travelers should plan for additional travel time and use alternate routes.

Two detour routes are planned for the duration of the road closure:

• West of the closure, eastbound travelers will be directed at North Murray Boulevard to turn either north (left) to Palmer Park Boulevard, or south (right) to East Platte Avenue.

• East of the closure, westbound travelers will be directed at Wooten Road to turn either north (right) to Palmer Park Boulevard, or south (left) to East Platte Avenue.

Access will be provided to properties adjacent to the utility trench work, city officials said in the release.

Customers of the ENT Credit Union at 4545 Galley Road should approach from the west, officials said. Access to businesses at 4575 Galley Road will be from the east.