PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — PennDOT has closed the Route 48 Boston Bridge that links Versailles Borough and Elizabeth Township.

PennDOT Spokesman Jim Struzzi says the $17 million project is the first real work done on the 80-year-old bridge.

Since there are no nearby bridges, the more than 17,000 drivers who use it every day will have a long detour until late September.

Here is the detour:

Regular vehicles:

Northbound Route 48

• Take Route 48(Boston Hollow Road) south to Finney Road (Route 2025)
• Make right and follow Finney Road west
• Finney Road becomes Liberty Way (Route 2023)
• Continue to follow Liberty Way northwest
• Turn left on Washington Boulevard (Route 2021)
• Follow to Fifth Avenue and turn right
• Cross the Fifth Avenue/Jerome Street Bridge in McKeesport
• Turn right onto Route 148 (Walnut Street) and follow back to Route 48/Boston Bridge

Southbound

• Same detour in opposite direction

Large truck detour:

Northbound

• Take Route 48 (Boston Hollow Road) south to Route 51
• Take Route 51 north to Route 837
• Follow Route 837 north to McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge
• Make right and cross bridge
• Make right onto Fifth Avenue in McKeesport

• Turn right onto Route 148 and follow back to Route 48/Boston Bridge

Southbound

• From Route 148 in McKeesport, cross McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge
• Turn left right onto southbound Route 837
• Follow southbound Route 837 to Route 51 north
• Continue on Route 51 north to Ridge Road exit
• Take off ramp and turn left onto Ridge Road
• Cross over Route 51 and take on-ramp to Route 51 south
• Follow Route 51 south to Route 48
• Make left onto Route 48 and continue north back to Boston Bridge

Local residents are advised to consider alternate routes.