Bayonne Bridge will be closed this weekend

New Jersey drivers who take the Bayonne Bridge during their commute will have to find an alternate route this weekend, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

In an announcement Thursday, the Port Authority said the Bayonne Bridge will be closed from 9 p.m. this Friday, and will re-open Sunday morning at 8 a.m. as crews continue an ongoing construction project.

"The closing was scheduled in conjunction with other regional agencies to minimize traffic impacts," The Port Authority said of the closing.

The $1.3 billion project, which will allow larger ships to pass under the bridge, is expected to be fully completed by 2019.

Normally, the Bayonne Bridge remains closed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. so construction crews can continue to work. On certain weekdays, the PA said, the bridge will open at 4:30 a.m. "to provide an alternate route for drivers affected by 4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. traffic holds on the Goethals Bridge."

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.