SARANAC LAKE — The Pine Street bridge will be closed to traffic for around three weeks starting on Tuesday, Sept. 26, as the structure undergoes some needed repairs, and St. Armand town Supervisor Davina Winemiller is telling motorists to plan accordingly.

Essex County Department of Public Works Deputy Superintendent Todd Hodgson said the work will involve replacing the bridge’s bearings, repairing the deck — the road surface that gets driven over — and improving stormwater drainage.

“It’s very exciting. We’re very glad about it,” Winemiller said. “It’s been on the agenda for quite some time.”

She said it took a while to get the bridge bearings, which were on back order for weeks. They came in last week.

Hodgson said the work necessitates jacking up the bridge, lifting it to get the bearing plates out.

“It’s a little bit involved,” he said, and that’s why it takes so long. “This is all to extend the life of that structure. Otherwise, that’s a very, very expensive bridge to replace.”

Documents from the county purchasing department show the $274,320 bid was awarded to Town and County Bridge and Rail Inc. of Albany, which had a offer 80% cheaper than the next lowest bid.

Winemiller said there will be a road closure from Bloomingdale Avenue to Dugway — the 200-foot street that connects the north end of Main Street to Pine Street. She said there will be detour signs designating alternate routes.

The bridge is in the town of St. Armand and the village of Saranac Lake. The county is in charge of maintaining all 138 bridges in its jurisdiction.