Route 79 in Lakeville is eastbound only Thursday, Nov. 12, for paving from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LAKEVILLE Route 79 in Lakeville will carry eastbound traffic only on Thursday, Nov. 12, while crews pave the road from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m., and drivers heading toward Taunton will be detoured, the town said.

Paving equipment arrives at 3 a.m., according to a notice the town posted Wednesday afternoon, which tells drivers to expect significant delays and to stay away from the area if they can. Lakeville police, in an earlier traffic advisory on the department's Facebook page, said paving would begin at 3 a.m. and continue into the day.

The contractor, P.A. Landers, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation changed the paving plan so most of the work happens in a single day, to avoid continued disruptions and because bad weather is in the forecast, according to the town's notice.

How the detours work

Eastbound drivers, heading from Taunton toward Middleborough, keep Route 79, with one lane open from Galfre Road to Coach Lane (LeBaron), both notices say.

Westbound drivers, heading from Middleborough toward Taunton, will be sent onto Southworth Street, through East Taunton on Middleboro Avenue and back onto Route 79 by way of Kingman Street, the town and police said.

Traffic coming from Precinct Street will be diverted onto Montgomery Street and sent back to Route 79 on Kingman Street, according to both notices.

School buses heading west may continue past Southworth Street if they need to, but only as far as Crooked Lane, where they will be turned down Crooked Lane to Bedford Street (Route 18), the town and police said.

Detail officers will be stationed throughout the work area, and detour signs will be posted to direct traffic, the town and police said.

What drivers should do

The police graphic asks drivers to seek alternate routes if possible, and the town's notice encourages motorists to avoid the area. Drivers who have to go through should expect traffic delays and detours, police said.

Nearby on Thursday, Route 140 northbound in Taunton has intermittent lane closures between Exit 16 (Route 79) and Exit 20 (Route 24) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an 11-foot width limit, and the same hours again Friday, according to Mass511.

Why the schedule moved

The National Weather Service forecast for Lakeville, updated at 4:14 p.m. Wednesday, calls for rain showers likely after noon Thursday, with a 60% chance, then rain Thursday night and a 90% chance of rain Friday.

What happens next

Follow-up work on side roads in the area is expected over the following day or days, according to the town's notice, which says further updates on the project schedule will be posted as the town receives them. Questions about the traffic plan can go to the Lakeville Police Department at 508-947-4422.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.