Okoboji, IA (KICD)– Many travelers in the Iowa Great Lakes Area were happy to see the Highway 71 bridge open nearly two weeks ahead of schedule Thursday night.

The road over the causeway between West and East Lake Okoboji closed September 18th for construction as part of a multi-phase project to rebuild the highway in the area.

The work was slated to take around four weeks, but the Iowa Department of Transportation tells KICD News, crews were able to get enough work done to allow traffic to flow through in just eleven days.

The next step in the project will involve the closure of Highway 71 from Sanborn Avenue to Lakeshore Drive beginning Monday with access being maintained to local businesses. That portion of the work will continue until weather conditions no longer allow.