POULSBO — In less than 72 hours, motorists will notice a major change in traffic along State Route 305.

The highway will be closed between Forest Rock Lane and Liberty Road beginning at 8:30 p.m. Friday, and will reopen by 5:30 a.m. Monday.

Motorists will detoured up Forest Rock Lane to 10th Avenue and back to Liberty Road during the closure.

Poulsbo Police Chief Jeff Doran said his department is ready for the upcoming closure, which is the first major closure of the $14.9 million project.

“We’re taking a ‘wait-and-see’ approach and are encouraging people to follow the detours,” Doran said.

While most out-of-town motorists will use the detours, there is some concern that local drivers will seek alternative routes, he said.

“We’re asking people to be considerate of their neighbors and not go speeding through residential areas,” he said.

Motorists need to be aware of the delays and plan accordingly, Doran said.

Public Works Director Jeff Bauman said the weekend closure was one of the main issues discussed at Monday’s project contractors’ meeting.

“We are asking people to be patient and bear with us,” Bauman said. “It’s just for a weekend.”

The detours will be clearly marked and motorists are advised to stick with the detours instead of attempting unmarked routes, Bauman said.

Councilman Mike Regis echoed Bauman’s advice and said motorists should allow extra traveling time during the weekend closure.

“Be patient,” Regis advised. “Give yourself plenty of time, and don’t be in a hurry.”

While the highway closure may be the focal point of activity this weekend, Bauman said Cascade Natural Gas crews are still doing night work at the Bond Road/SR 305 intersection, but that work is almost completed.

Flaggers will be at the intersection from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Friday and again on Aug. 28.

Early next week, Kitsap Public Utilities District and Comcast Cable crews will be preparing to close Iverson Street between 8th Avenue and SR 305 from 11 p.m. Aug. 30 to 4 a.m. Aug. 31, Bauman said.

Crews will be staging equipment for the work near the Poulsbo Library and Christ the King Academy on Aug. 28 or Aug. 29, he said.

“The closure shouldn’t have much impact, because it’s only one block and people can go either way on 8th,” Bauman said.