03:45 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 30, 2006

By MICHAEL MENDOZA / KVUE News

Drivers should prepare themselves for a new set of traffic troubles in the heart of downtown Austin. A big construction project will limit access on Cesar Chavez.

Beginning Tuesday, construction crews are closing the two right lanes of Cesar Chavez between Colorado and Brazos streets.

City officials say sewer lines that lie under the street need to be replaced. The project is part of the Austin Clean Water program that requires the city to upgrade its sewer lines to prevent overflows into Town Lake.

"We're going to be tunneling under the street. It will cause less street disruption and will be less noisy," said Laurie Lentz, City of Austin Water Utilities.

The project will take about 2 months and won't be finished till the end of July. Crews will be working 24 hours a day.

Drivers are encouraged to take an alternate route.