ELKHART — Drivers, get ready for more construction along S.R. 19 (Nappanee Street).

Reconstruction of a two-mile stretch along S.R. 19 will continue south of the St. Joseph River for the 2013 construction season. Traffic will shift to the east side of the road beginning Wednesday, March 13, to allow construction to start on the west side of S.R. 19, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation. Traffic will be limited to one 10-foot-wide lane northbound and southbound between Lusher Avenue and the St. Joseph River. All work is weather permitting.

The contractor will close side streets along S.R. 19 in the construction zone as necessary. INDOT expects the west leg of Indiana Avenue to close at the end of March.

Meanwhile, work will continue on the east side of the bridge over the St. Joseph River, which will shift traffic to the west side of the road on the bridge with one lane of traffic in each direction.

The S.R. 19 reconstruction project will include the replacement of pavement from Lusher Avenue to Beardsley Avenue to allow room for a five-lane concrete roadway with a bi-directional turn lane, according to INDOT. Also included in the road project will be the rehabilitation of the bridge over the St. Joseph River plus the installation of sidewalks, curb and gutter, ramps, a storm sewer system, new traffic signals and pedestrian crosswalks with push buttons at Franklin Street, Indiana Avenue, Lexington Avenue and Bypass Road.

One portion of the project, from Beardsley Avenue to the St. Joseph River, was completed last year.

Rieth-Riley Construction has been hired for the S.R. 19 project for $14 million.