CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The long-awaited repairs to the Kanawha Boulevard bridge over the Elk River begin Monday.

Motorists who normally use the bridge to cross between the east and west sides of the city will have to find an alternate route for the next 80 days - nearly all summer.

City officials are expecting traffic problems, at least temporarily, as motorists encounter the detour. Starting at 9 a.m., westbound traffic will be diverted at Clendenin Street to Quarrier Street. Eastbound traffic will detour at Pennsylvania Avenue to Virginia Street. Eastbound motorists will also be able to turn left from the Boulevard onto Columbia Avenue.

The bridge will be closed between Clendenin Street and Pennsylvania Avenue for the duration of the repairs, through late August. Local traffic will be able to travel on the Boulevard west of Clendenin to reach nearby restaurants.

The main purpose of the repairs is to replace most of a retaining wall on the western bank of the Elk River. The top of the wall has tilted away from the bank and lifted the edge of the road, creating a bump several inches high that has been jarring vehicles for months.

Wiseman Construction Co., which won the $389,359 contract for the job, will also perform other repairs this summer.

Later, under a separate contract, the bridge will be repainted. During the painting, two lanes of the bridge will be open to traffic.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5102.

Motorists who normally use the bridge to cross between the east and west sides of the city will have to find an alternate route for the next 80 days - nearly all summer.

City officials are expecting traffic problems, at least temporarily, as motorists encounter the detour. Starting at 9 a.m., westbound traffic will be diverted at Clendenin Street to Quarrier Street. Eastbound traffic will detour at Pennsylvania Avenue to Virginia Street. Eastbound motorists will also be able to turn left from the Boulevard onto Columbia Avenue.

The bridge will be closed between Clendenin Street and Pennsylvania Avenue for the duration of the repairs, through late August. Local traffic will be able to travel on the Boulevard west of Clendenin to reach nearby restaurants.

The main purpose of the repairs is to replace most of a retaining wall on the western bank of the Elk River. The top of the wall has tilted away from the bank and lifted the edge of the road, creating a bump several inches high that has been jarring vehicles for months.

Wiseman Construction Co., which won the $389,359 contract for the job, will also perform other repairs this summer.

Later, under a separate contract, the bridge will be repainted. During the painting, two lanes of the bridge will be open to traffic.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5102.