FAIRBANKS -- A two-year road construction project that will change the look of access to downtown Fairbanks is under way.

Streets north of the Chena River are being realigned to connect with a new bridge that's already in place.

The bridge will carry southbound downtown traffic over the Chena while the Cushman Street Bridge will be changed from two-way traffic to northbound traffic only.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports construction will affect businesses and the Fairbanks North Star Borough administration center as streets close in favor of detours.

The Alaska Department of Transportation says road construction will continue through summer 2013 and should be completed that fall.