Power Canal Bridge and causeways on Merrittville Highway.

Niagara Region has announced a Sept. 14 closure date for Merrittville Highway, as workers begin a lengthy project to replace the old steel bridge over Lake Gibson.

Merrittville Highway between Decew Road and Beaverdams Road is expected to remain closed until August 2016, except to local residents and businesses.

Crews will replace the narrow steel-truss span — officially known as Power Canal Bridge — and also widen the causeways at either end of it. The result will be 3.5-metre vehicle lanes as well as bicycle lanes in both directions.

During the closure, traffic will be detoured along Beaverdams Road (Regional Road 67), St. Davids Road (Regional Road 71) and Collier Road (Regional Road 56).

Anyone with questions or concerns about the project should contact the Region’s consultant, Christian Concolino at 905 346-0990 ext 286; or Jason Marr, the senior transportation project engineer at 905 980-6000 ext 3552.