The drive-through drop-off lane at the downtown post office is expected to be closed through Friday as construction crews pour concrete for an adjacent parking lot.

Mike Behrend, customer service manager for the post office, said paving of the employee parking lot has caused a temporary closure of the drive-through lane.

Behrend said once the repaving is done on the lot – which is on the western side of the post office at Seventh and Vermont streets – crews will move to a customer parking lot on the eastern side of the building. That lot, which is accessed off Vermont Street, likely will be closed for much of next week, he said.

Behrend said the paving was part of normal maintenance of the facility and not a sign that talks to move the post office from that site have broken down. He said Lawrence postal officials still are awaiting word from regional postal leaders on whether the post office should move to another downtown location.

Executives with Lawrence-based Gene Fritzel Construction Co. have proposed moving the post office to another downtown site to accommodate plans they have to redevelop portions of Vermont Street.