The nine-day closure of the northbound span of the I-5 Interstate Bridge is set to begin Saturday and run Sept. 12-20, when crews will replace mechanical parts that help lift and lower the bridge.

According to information from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), crews will begin on Saturday the work to move northbound traffic onto the southbound span of the bridge and install the zipper barrier. By the afternoon of Saturday, I-5 traffic in both directions will share the three lanes on the southbound span of the bridge.

During the closure, travelers crossing the bridge in both directions will share the three existing lanes and sidewalk on the southbound bridge.

A movable concrete barrier, known as a zipper barrier, will shift the lanes to allow for two lanes of traffic to travel in the heaviest direction during commute times.

The zipper barrier will shift travel lanes between noon and 1 p.m. and again between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. to allow two southbound lanes in the morning and two northbound lanes in the evening.

ODOT says everyone can help reduce congestion during the closure by using options such as delaying or shifting trips, taking transit, or working from home or another location if possible.