State Route 31 in Lowndes County will be experiencing a traffic pattern change.

On Thursday, August 11 SR 31/Madison Highway traffic is scheduled to move to a single Interstate 75 overpass at the Exit 11 interchange.

The northernmost bridge, which currently carries traffic going toward Clyattville and Florida, will close to allow the contractor to begin demolition.

All traffic will use the southernmost bridge, the one that is currently for traffic traveling toward Valdosta.

After the shift the bridge will have one lane for southbound traffic and one lane for northbound traffic.

Temporary traffic signals will be installed at the interstate ramp intersections.

According to a Facebook post from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, the Exit 11 interchange is being reconstructed to improve safety and efficiency by providing additional capacity on the bridge and approaches over the interstate and on the ramps. The project is partially funded through the Transportation Investment Act (TIA).

The total cost of the project is $53.2 million, which includes construction, preliminary engineering and right of way. It is currently scheduled to be complete in winter 2024.

Tomorrow the contractor plans to close the northernmost SR 31/Madison Highway bridge (the bridge on the left in the photo) of the Exit 11 interchange.

All traffic will move to the other bridge.

Demolition of the northernmost bridge will begin as part of the reconstruction of the interchange.