Crews this week began removing trees in preparation for replacing the Bandaret Bridge on Southeast May Valley Road early next year.

The 56-year-old timber span over Issaquah Creek near 230th Avenue Southeast is deteriorating, doesn’t meet current seismic safety standards and is too narrow for modern-day traffic, according to the King County road services division.

Removing approximately 40 trees near the bridge will allow crews to relocate utility poles in August, which could result in intermittent lane closures. The utilities need to be relocated to make way for construction equipment and the wider new bridge, which will have two 12-foot lanes.

Construction is scheduled to begin next spring.