By Brent Hardin

SOUTH BEND - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials announced Friday that they will temporarily close the Lied Platte River Bridge near South Bend beginning Monday morning.

Workers will close the bridge in order to remove river debris that has piled up next to the structure. The debris is from storm damage in 2008. Officials had closed the seven-year old bridge for cleanup work earlier this year, but they had to halt the project from April 15-Aug. 15. State and federal regulations required work to stop in order to protect the endangered pallid sturgeon and threatened piping plover.

The bridge is expected to reopen by the end of September. Hikers and bikers use it on a daily basis for exercise and observing Platte River scenery.