Construction along Highway 101 near Refugio State Beach will require a traffic alignment set to go into effect next week for drivers and detours for bikers.

Beginning Wednesday, Caltrans will redirect drivers onto the northbound portion of the highway as it continues to replace the southbound bridge over Refugio Road.

Traffic is scheduled to be directed onto the northbound portion of the highway until October 2025. Then, traffic will be directed onto the southbound portion of the road as crews rebuild the northbound bridge.

The traffic realignments will affect both lanes of traffic.

Travelers using Refugio Road should expect intermittent road closures and flagging throughout the construction period. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2028, according to Genelle Padilla, a public information officer for Caltrans District 5.

The construction is part of a project to replace the northbound and southbound bridges along the road. The project’s first phase will allow for the demolition and replacement of the southern bridge.

Construction crews plan to demolish the bridge by mid-December, Padilla said.

The new bridges will resemble the current bridges but will be 7 feet wider to accommodate trucks. They will have the same alignment, profile and lane configuration as the existing spans.

The changes to the bridge will also include upgrades to the pedestrian pathway beneath the structures, and updates to the lighting system.

The entire project will cost $56 million.