Traffic will be shut down intermittently today at the Suder Avenue bridge over the Ottawa River while beams are set during an ongoing bridge-replacement project, the city transportation division has announced.

Starting at noon, a city contractor is to transport and set nine concrete beams for part of the replacement bridge, which is being built one half at a time. During these moves, all traffic across the bridge's open lanes will be halted.

The work is expected to take four hours to complete. City officials said traffic delays are likely and recommended avoiding the Suder bridge.

Detour routes will not be posted. The closest alternative Ottawa River bridges are on Summit Street and I-75/I-280.

First Published May 11, 2012, 4:00 a.m.