ESCANABA — Drivers between Escanaba and Gladstone can expect delays in the evenings of Nov. 5 and 7 while work occurs on the Escanaba River Bridge.

The eastbound lane of U.S. 2 will be closed between Delta County Road 426 and Mead Road while the new bridge deck is poured. One lane will be maintained in alternating directions under flag control. This work is weather dependent.

The closures are planned to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time and work is expected to last for six hours each night. Drivers should expect a maximum delay of 10 minutes.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is reminding drivers in the work zone at the Escanaba River Bridge to heed traffic signs and use both lanes of U.S. 2 as they approach the lane closures near the bridge. Drivers should wait to merge until the “merge now” signs.

The potential for crashes and backups, especially at peak traffic times, can be lessened when motorists use both lanes until reaching the defined merge area and then merge in an alternate, or “zipper,” fashion into the open lane.

MDOT is investing $20.5 million to replace both the U.S. 2 bridge over the Escanaba River and the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad bridge over U.S. 2. All lanes on the bridge are expected to open to traffic in late November and the project is expected to be completed in early 2019.