The Portersville Bridge replacement project will reach its next phase later this month, forcing motorists across the county to find alternate routes for the next nine months.

Beginning between Sept. 18 and Sept. 23, crews from Mt. Pleasant-based contractor J.F. Shea Construction will set beams for the new Portersville Bridge. This will lead to closures on Interstate 79, both northbound and southbound, as well as a lane closure on Route 488.

Northbound travelers on I-79 should exit at the Portersville/Prospect off-ramp and reenter through the northbound on-ramp. Southbound I-79 travelers should take exit 99, which will eventually lead back to Interstate 79. Traffic on State Route 488 will be reduced to a single lane with a flagger directing operations.

The bridge replacement project is expected to finish June 2024.