UPDATED, Thursday, 5:18 p.m.|

The start of the pipeline repair work has been moved up to Thursday, July 11. The closure was originally supposed to start Friday night, but was moved up after crews discovered the water leak was worse than previously detected, officials said.

Eastbound and westbound lanes of Ocean Boulevard will be closed at State Route 47, although one lane will remain open in each direction at all times, officials said.

Expect delays.

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Previously:

Road closures are planned for construction of the new Gerald Desmond Bridge, including an emergency closure for 55 hours this weekend.

Eastbound lanes of Ocean Boulevard near State Route 47 and the Gerald Desmond Bridge will close for about 55 hours beginning Friday, July 12, so crews can repair a water line behind the roadway.

Motorists traveling east from the Port of Los Angeles and San Pedro areas will be diverted to northbound SR-47 to continue to the 710 Freeway and Long Beach via Anaheim Street. Eastbound lanes will close beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday night. Eastbound Ocean Boulevard lanes are scheduled to reopen Sunday night as soon as repairs are completed.

Planned closures of Harbor Scenic Drive in the Port of Long Beach will also close for four consecutive weekends beginning July 27 as crews repave the roadway.

The alternating northbound/southbound closures on Harbor Scenic between Harbor Plaza and Ocean Boulevard will potentially impact drivers headed to and from Piers G, H and J in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary, the Carnival Cruise terminal and nearby hospitality businesses.

Detours will be available using a combination of Pico Avenue and Harbor Plaza for heavy-duty vehicles, while cars and other lighter vehicles will also have the option of using Queensway Bridge to access the area from downtown Long Beach.

Motorists are encouraged to subscribe to traffic alerts via the LBBridge app and www.newgdbridge.com to be notified when the lanes reopen and for future traffic announcements.

The bridge is expected to be complete in early 2020.