Minnesota Department of Transportation crews will be placing a portable concrete barrier on the shoulder on a portion of Cedar Avenue Thursday and Friday bringing non-peak lane closures in the vicinity of the Minnesota River bridge.

It's a harbinger of a bridge repair and painting project that will result full closures of the highway in June between Hwy. 13 and Old Shakopee Road.

Thursday's work will be on the northbound side of Cedar between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday's work will be on the southbound side from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The real impact to commuters will come when MnDOT begins replacing bridge joints and guardrails, and painting the bridge spanning the Minnesota River. From June 5 to 15, all northbound lanes between Hwy. 13 and Old Shakopee Road will be closed. Motorists will be detoured east on I-494 and south on I-35E.

From June 19 to 30, the northbound lanes will be shut down. Motorists will be routed north on I-35E then west on I-494.

"A significant portion of this work will affect traffic and is likely to result in congestion," a statement from MnDOT says.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority buses also will be impacted. For the most up-to-date bus service schedule changes visit www.mvta.com.