HOMESTEAD, Pa. -- Construction on the Homestead Grays Bridge has begun, and the massive project will inconvenience a lot of people for quite some time.

Two of the four lanes of Homestead Grays Bridge will be shut down for 15 months.

Most of the repairs will be done underneath the bridge, but workers have to remove the deck on top to get to structure below.

At first, vehicles on the 68-year-old span will be restricted to the curb lanes while concrete barriers are placed in the middle and temporary traffic patterns are established.

In the second phase, the traffic pattern will be switched to the southbound side, with one lane going in each direction.

No date has been set for when the second phase will begin.

The lane closures will greatly impact Waterfront traffic, but there are alternate routes.

Drivers may take the Glenwood or Rankin bridges to get to points north or south of the city.

There will be off-duty police officers directing traffic in area during rush hour.

The estimated cost of the project is $29 million.

Click here for real-time traffic conditions.