MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Select Board considered two courses of action in response to delays with repairs being done to the Acushnet Rd. Bridge.

The bridge has been closed since July 17 and was scheduled to be completed by Aug. 17. However, construction was delayed due to inclement weather and testing that showed the presence of E. Coli in the water, according to Town Administrator Mike Lorenco.

At an Aug. 10 meeting, Lorenco said that the contractor in charge of the project had asked for a one-week extension — during which the bridge would stay closed — to make it a fully-functional roadway.

However, Lorenco also said that the contractor could open the bridge on time while construction was ongoing, but only as a single lane. That option, Lorenco said, would slow down construction considerably so that the bridge would take an additional three weeks to complete.

Under both scenarios, a police detail would have to be present at the bridge to divert traffic during construction, but the contractor reportedly agreed to split the cost of the detail — about $7,000 for the week, according to Lorenco — if the one-week extension was granted.

“I say we just get it done,” said Select Board Member Jordan Collyer.

The other board members echoed his sentiment, with Jodi Bauer voicing concerns about extending the project into the school year when school buses would have to pass over the bridge.

In the end, the Select Board decided to delay a decision to allow a few days for members of the public to weigh in on the issue.