LANE RESTRICTIONS ALL SUMMER ON QUINCY-WEYMOUTH BRIDGE

South Shore commuters and anyone from the Boston area planning a visit to Nantasket Beach this summer might want to avoid the usually heavily traveled Route 3A in the Quincy and Weymouth area.

To facilitate continued work on a new bridge, traffic over the Fore River will be reduced to one lane each way at all times from June 2 through Sept. 1. State officials plan to hold a press conference on the new bridge Thursday at 11 a.m. to discuss the situation.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Fore River Bridge replacement project began in fall 2012 and White-Skanska-Koch anticipates completing work in 2018. The project is 650 days behind schedule, according to state documents.

The lane closures are intended to "speed up the transition" to the new bridge, according to MassDOT. A project hotline (617-504-2924) is available for members of the community with questions or concerns about a specific construction activity at the site, MassDOT says, adding that the telephone number is staffed whenever construction activities are in progress.

Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver plans on Thursday to highlight travel options for drivers, including ferry and commuter rail.

- Michael P. Norton/State House News Service