Cleveland, TN (WOKI) We’re learning more now about the status of the Bald River Falls Bridge in Tellico Plains.

It was announced last July that the bridge, which opened in 1933, would be closing for construction due to safety and the age of the bridge.

Officials say progress is being made on installing a new bridge, but they are still asking people to avoid the area.

“We have folks out here with heavy equipment, frames and dump trucks. We don’t want to risk anybody getting injured along the bridge, and the more we can keep it sanitized for the construction crews, the quicker it will get done,” said Andrew Carrier, Staff Officer with the U.S. Forest Service.

Officials said the goal is to have the new bridge open by the end of the year.

The new bridge project is expected to cost about $9.5 million to complete.