JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Bridge of Lions temporary bridge closure originally scheduled for Wednesday has been rescheduled to Thursday night, due to weather conflicts.

The temporary Bridge of Lions will be completely closed to all motorist traffic for 11 hours beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday evening, and ending at 6 a.m. Friday morning. The temporary closure will also include restricting a short portion of Anastasia Boulevard east of the Bridge to Zorayda Avenue.

Access to businesses along Anastasia Boulevard will be maintained during the closure through side streets. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic may use the sidewalk during the closure. Marine traffic will not be affected.

The closure is necessary to accommodate a traffic reconfiguration at the east end of the temporary Bridge of Lions. The new traffic pattern will be similar to the final configuration after the Bridge of Lions is reopened at the end of 2009. During the temporary closure, the state route 312 bridge may be used as an alternate route.

The Bridge of Lions Rehabilitation project, funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, began in February 2005. Completion of the rehabilitated bridge is expected in late fall 2009, excluding weather delays, and will be followed by removal of the temporary bridge.

For more information regarding the bridge rehabilitation, please visit this web site, www.FDOTBridgeofLions.com or info@FDOTBridgeofLions.com.