There is a traffic alert for drivers in Orange and Ulster counties as construction is set to begin on the Thruway this weekend.

Starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, the northbound lanes from Exit 17 in Newburgh to Exit 18 in New Paltz will be shut down for at least 12 hours.

The closure is necessary to remove a section of the Brookside Road overpass, which has been out of commission since May due to damage from nine over-height vehicles.

The work was originally planned for last weekend but was rescheduled due to the snowstorm. The Thruway Authority advises that a detour will be in place but encourages drivers to seek alternate routes or avoid travel if possible.