Drivers should expect major delays next Tuesday crossing the U.S. Highway 40 bridges over the Kansas River in downtown Lawrence.

The Kansas Department of Transportation said both bridges will close during different parts of the day as crews complete inspection work on the bearings beneath the bridge decks.

Both the northbound and southbound bridges will be closed entirely for five to 15 minutes at a time between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Only one bridge will be closed at a time, KDOT said. A flagging operation will be used to direct traffic through the work zone during the closures. Message boards will alert drivers to the lane closures.

KDOT said drivers should expect major delays during the closures and are encouraged to use alternate routes if possible.