AUGUSTA — The bridge that carries Bridge Street over the Kennebec River in downtown Augusta will be partially closed to traffic for emergency repairs from Wednesday morning to Friday morning.

The Calumet Bridge at Old Fort Western needs repair work done to a loose bridge joint on the west side of the bridge, due to concrete chipping at the site, according to Damian Veilleux, a Maine Department of Transportation spokesperson.

Transportation department crews are expected to begin work at 6 a.m. Wednesday and be finished by Friday at 6 a.m.

The work will involve partially closing the bridge to traffic, with the westbound lane heading toward Water Street closed Wednesday. On Thursday, the closure will switch to the eastbound lane, heading toward Cony Street, said Haley Gauvin, director of communications and marketing for the city of Augusta. She advised motorists to follow posted detour signs in the area and allow extra travel time.

Traffic will be detoured onto Memorial Bridge just to the south. The detour route will be marked by signs to direct motorists.

The bridge has an average daily traffic flow of just over 11,000 vehicles, according to DOT data.

The three-lane bridge was built in 1972. Until 2009, it was known as the Father Curran Bridge, but it was renamed through state legislation because of sexual abuse allegations that arose after the Rev. John J. Curran, a Roman Catholic priest at St. Augustine Church from 1962-72, died in 1976.