Overnight lane closures are scheduled for Thursday on the northbound and southbound sides of the Highway 101 bridge over the Santa Maria River as crews temporarily restripe traffic lanes, according to Caltrans.

The lane closures will start at 8 p.m. Thursday and continue until 6 a.m Friday. One lane will be open at all times in both directions.

The work is part of a $31 million project to widen the bridge between Nipomo and Santa Maria from two to three lanes in each direction. It will also include a bicycle path near the southbound lanes behind a concrete barrier.

The project is about halfway done and is expected to be finished in 2014, according to Caltrans.

Overnight lane closures are expected over the next several weeks as construction continues on a new bridge deck, according to a Caltrans news release.

With limited shoulder space on the bridge, Caltrans recommends that bicyclists traveling southbound detour along Thompson Avenue to Highway 166 East to Bull Canyon Road and then to Donovan Road.