GRANITE FALLS — A bridge more than 60 years old on the Mountain Loop Highway is expected to get some needed attention starting in April.

Snohomish County leaders recently approved a $1.8 million contract for retrofitting work on the Marten Creek Bridge. Marten Creek flows into the South Fork Stillaguamish River.

The 1949 concrete and timber bridge sits about 21 miles east of Granite Falls in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In 2002, experts identified problems with deteriorating timber supports, a county news release said.

The County Council on Jan. 27 authorized contracting the work to Advanced Construction Inc. of Mukilteo. The company’s bid was about 12 percent lower than what the county estimated project would cost.

Work is expected to last until November 2011, the release says. Expect single-lane closures during construction.

The new bridge will be supported by steel pilings and will span 130 feet. It will be 38 feet wide with two traffic lanes and shoulders. The bridge supports will be placed outside the stream bed.

State and federal money is paying for the project.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.