A weekend-long detour starting Friday night will impact drivers traveling in and out of Downtown Long Beach as the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project continues toward its anticipated completion date at the end of 2019.

The closures will start at 9 p.m. Friday, July 27, when Pico Avenue will be closed where it passes underneath the old northbound connector ramp to the 710 Freeway. The closure will last until 5 a.m. Monday, with motorists being provided a trio of detours to navigate the Downtown area.

Port of Long Beach spokesperson Lee Peterson said the closure of the 710 connector will be smaller in scope than the one that began on July 4, and it will close down a street that is primarily used for port traffic, which is reduced during the weekend. Peterson said this is the last major shutdown of streets expected in the immediate future.

“The last closure closed down Harbor Scenic Drive where people would use to go down to the Queen Mary,” Peterson said. “In this case, we’re closing down a surface street which is generally used for port-related traffic. Those drivers will be aware that they have to use Harbor Scenic. The impact will be smaller.”

IN PICTURES: Gerald Desmond Bridge demolition work will force detours until Saturday

The July 4 closure of Harbor Scenic Drive coincided with large crowds trying to access the Queen Mary for Independence Day celebrations and fireworks shows and a ramp-up to a large hip-hop festival hosted at the Queen Mary that same weekend.

Westbound traffic on Ocean Boulevard this weekend will be unaffected, but those trying to enter the city or access Harbor Scenic Drive coming from the east will have to take a short detour. Trucks with oversized loads will not be permitted to travel on Pico Avenue during the the closure.

A list of detours are included below:

• Downtown Long Beach: Drivers headed east on Ocean Boulevard will need to exit at Pico Avenue and turn left before taking a right on 9th Street. Continue onto 10th Street and take the onramp for Shoreline Drive.
• South Harbor Scenic Drive: Drivers traveling east on Ocean Boulevard will have to exit Pico Avenue and turn left before turning right on 9th Street and travel north to Anaheim Street. Turn right onto Anaheim Street and get on the 710-south following the signs toward the Port/Queen Mary.
• Downtown to South Harbor Scenic Drive: Heading west on Ocean Boulevard, take the northbound onramp for the 710 Freeway at Golden Shore. Exit at Anaheim Street and take the 710-south onramp and follow signs toward Port/Queen Mary.