The Maryland Transportation Authority will be closing two major bridges to traffic in both directions as three large cranes will be moved out through the Chesapeake Bay.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge and Chesapeake Bay Bridge will be temporarily closed at different times on Thursday to accommodate the safe passage of the cranes past both bridges.

On Thursday, March 16, the Key Bridge will be closed at approximately 9:30 a.m. to traffic for about 15-30 minutes. Around 1:30 p.m., the Bay Bridge will close to traffic in both directions for 15-30 minutes as well.

These closures to traffic are for safety purposes to ensure that drivers are not distracted while crossing these bridges during the crane’s transportation underneath them.