Navigating the intersection of 23rd and Louisiana streets is expected to get more difficult beginning Tuesday.

The part of Louisiana Street immediately north of 23rd Street will be closed to traffic as crews install a waterline. The closure is expected to last through Wednesday.

The city has been urging motorists to avoid the intersection for weeks due to the waterline work. But the project became more complicated when crews struck an AT&T fiber optic cable on April 23. Since that time, eastbound 23rd Street motorists have not been able to turn left onto Louisiana Street. On Tuesday, westbound motorists also will not be able to turn right onto Louisiana Street. Southbound motorists on Louisiana Street also will be blocked from accessing 23rd Street.

On Thursday the city expects to partially reopen the intersection. All turning movements at the intersection will be allowed except for eastbound 23rd Street motorists wanting to turn left onto Louisiana Street. That left turn is expected to be prohibited until May 15, which is when AT&T crews are scheduled to complete the fiber optic cable repairs.

But even then the project won’t be done. Work to replace the old waterline between Alabama and Louisiana streets is expected to run through July. During that time period westbound traffic on 23rd Street will be reduced to one lane.