ROCHESTER — Motorists will not be able to enter southbound Highway 52 at 55th Street Northwest in Rochester today, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The temporary closure is necessary for crews to pour concrete to widen the ramp. The ramp will close at 7 a.m. and is expected to reopen on tonight, weather permitting.

The work was originally scheduled for a different day, but was postponed because of weather delays.

Reconstruction of the Highway 52 bridge at 55th Street NW began April 14. Work includes the widening of the bridge to the south and reconstruction of the outside lanes of 55th Street from the West Frontage Road of Highway 52 to Bandel Road on the east side. The improvements are being made to improve traffic flow on 55th Street and the Highway 52 ramps.

The $4.7 million city of Rochester project is being done through joint cooperation between the city, Olmsted County and MnDOT. Work is expected to be completed in the fall of 2014.

The inside lanes of northbound and southbound Highway 52 remain closed for construction of the bridge pier for bridge widening. The inside lane closures still provide two lanes of highway traffic in each direction and should not greatly impact highway traffic flow, according to a press release.