Driving around Providence is about to get a little more complicated with the closure of the Atwells Avenue Bridge.

The state Transportation Department says the bridge is scheduled to close for a $2.5 million repair project starting Jan. 5, and will remain closed for about a year. The project will repair the top portion of the structure, damaged during the floods of 2010.

Officials tell The Providence Journal that closing the bridge entirely will cut the time it takes to complete the job in half.

The bridge crosses the Woonasquatucket River between Eagle Street and Tuxedo Avenue.

Information on detours during the project is available at http://www.dot.ri.gov/detourmaps .