A public celebration is planned as part of the construction of a Mesa County Libraries branch in Clifton.

The beam signing event is set for 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Jan. 20 at the construction site at 3270 D 1/2 Road. Participants are encouraged to sign a steel beam that will become part of the building.

Students at nearby Rocky Mountain Elementary School also will visit the site during the day to sign the beam.

The concrete foundation has been completed, and the steel structure of the building soon will be erected. The Clifton branch is scheduled to open in August. The project is expected to cost $11.5 million.

At 17,800 square feet, the new Clifton branch will be more than three times larger than the existing branch, located in 5,400 square feet of leased space in a shopping center. The new Clifton branch will be second in size to only the central library branch in Grand Junction.