JACKSON TWP — Those who travel on Interstate 79 in southwestern Butler County may need to find alternate routes soon.

Construction for the southbound ramp bridge at Exit 85 that goes over Route 19 northbound is scheduled to begin as part of the state Department of Transportation’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project starting the week of March 27.

Construction is expected to be complete in mid-June. During this time, access to Route 528 southbound will be closed and drivers will be directed to follow a detour along Little Creek Road and Route 19.

“Replacement of this bridge will allow PennDOT to remove it from Butler County’s structurally deficient list,” said Plenary Walsh Keystone spokesman Jeff Rossi in a release.

Route 19 northbound will periodically be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to replace beams and drivers will be directed to follow a detour along Route 68 — East Grandview Avenue — and I-79.

The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project aims to replace 558 bridges in 66 Pennsylvania counties deemed structurally deficient.

To see the bridges included in the statewide initiative and to learn more about the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, visit www.p3forpa.pa.gov. More information on the project, the team and how to bid on the project can be found at www.parapidbridges.com.