Lane restrictions on Mink Street in New Albany began Monday, Oct. 5, as a utility company started pavement work expected to last about eight weeks.

Two-way traffic will stay open throughout the project, but drivers should expect delays where lanes narrow, according to a city announcement. The city did not name the utility company doing the work. A map showing the limits of the restricted area is available on the city's website.

Mink Street is already carrying extra traffic. Since June 1, Jug Street between Clover Valley Road and Mink Street has been restricted to eastbound traffic only while contractor Trucco Construction rebuilds the road. Westbound drivers have been routed onto Mink Street and Clover Valley Road. That detour is expected to remain in place through Dec. 31.

The Jug Street project includes full-depth pavement replacement, pavement widening, curb, storm sewer, a leisure trail, street trees and a water main.

Mink Street also connects to a new east-west roadway the city is building between Clover Valley Road and Mink Street, referred to as Dragonfly Way during construction. That project is also expected to be substantially complete by Dec. 31.

Nearby, Green Chapel Road between Clover Valley Road and US-62 remains closed to through traffic for a Phase 2 reconstruction by Complete General Construction. Drivers on that detour are routed via Beech Road, Jug Street and Clover Valley Road. That project also carries a Dec. 31 target.

No firm end date has been set for the Mink Street utility work. The city's announcement says only that the project is expected to last "roughly 8 weeks." The announcement, posted by Konner Barr on the city's website, includes a map of the lane restrictions.