DENVER -- The first major work in the five-year, $1.67 billion widening of Interstate 25 took place over night Sunday.

The Franklin Street bridge over I-25 was removed by demolition crews (pictured, left). It took more than eight hours to remove the bridge, which was faster than expected.

I-25 was closed in both directions from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. from Santa Fe Drive to East Hampden Avenue while the work was carried out.

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The demolition work was one day ahead of schedule, T-REX officials said Monday and will only need to continue another night, as crews finish up the on the remainder of the bridge.

Detours weren't the only inconvenience. Tearing down 1,000 cubic yards of concrete and reinforcement bars is expected to make a lot of noise. The Transportation Expansion Project, or T-REX, has offered to pay the tab of nearby residents who escape the din by staying in a hotel.

T-REX got under way six weeks ago, but the work so far has been minor, such as lane striping and utility relocations, said project spokeswoman Karen Morales.

Mary Maclean, a Franklin Street resident for 18 years, said Saturday she wasn't concerned too much about noise but couldn't turn down the offer of a stay at the Westin Tabor Center hotel downtown.

"I'll be able to enjoy the pool and get a little break from the house," said Maclean, 58.

Edward Janza, 80, turned down the hotel offer.

"I'm hard of hearing anyhow so it won't make a difference to me," said Janza, who has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years.

The new Franklin Street bridge is scheduled to open in August.

New bridges over I-25 will be constructed at Downing, Emerson, Washington, Logan and Steele streets and Louisiana Avenue. The Steele Street bridge over I-25 is the next to be demolished and rebuilt.

The Logan Street and Louisiana Avenue bridges are scheduled for demolition next year, and the Emerson, Downing and Washington street bridges are scheduled for demolition in 2003.

Colorado voters in 1999 approved financing the reconstruction of I-25 with state-issued bonds.

The project will add one to two lanes in each direction along 19 miles of I-25 in the metro area. It will also extend the Regional Transportation District's light-rail system along the highway from Broadway in south Denver to Douglas County, and up Interstate 225 to Aurora.

For additional information on upcoming construction activities, including a T-REX Construction 7-Day Look Ahead, check out at www.trexproject.com, under the "Construction Schedule and Information" section, or call 303-786-TREX for information 24 hours day.