Southbound Highway 99 closure scheduled

Southbound Highway 99 near the Le Grand Road exit is scheduled to be closed for bridge work Monday, according to Caltrans officials.

The closure will run from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday, according to a California Department of Transportation press release. There may be an additional closure from 9 p.m. Tuesday until 9 p.m. Wednesday if crews are unable to finish the work by early Tuesday.

Motorists should expect 15-minute delays. A signed detour will be in place and alternate routes should be taken whenever possible. The closure is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or materials and construction related issues, according to the release.

The work is part of the $76.6 million Highway 99 Plainsburg Road Freeway Project, which began in December 2012. As part of the project, a new interchange will be built at Plainsburg Road and a four-lane expressway converted to a six-lane freeway from the Madera County line to Buchanan Hollow Road in Merced County.

The project received $65.9 million from Proposition 1B, the $19.9 billion transportation bond approved by voters in 2006 with the goal of easing congestion, improving mobility, decreasing travel times, improving operations, and enhancing safety for both commuter and recreational traffic in Merced County.

This story was originally published December 30, 2014 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Southbound Highway 99 closure scheduled."