DECATUR — New and improved lighting will soon illuminate the Capt. William J. Hudson Memorial bridge and U.S. 31 causeway crossing the Tennessee River in Decatur.

Work by the city of Decatur’s contractor to replace roadway lighting on northbound U.S. 31 will require lane closures next week.

Weather permitting, Shoals Electric will close the outside northbound lane from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, Monday-Thursday. Motorists should expect traffic delays.

“This marks a major step toward restoring lighting along one of Decatur’s busiest corridors,” according to a statement from the city.

The system became inoperable several years ago, after rodents damaged underground wiring.

The city has designed a complete replacement plan, including new conduit, junctions, wiring, and rodent-resistant pull boxes to help prevent future damage.

Decatur secured $814,978 in federal carbon-reduction funds and supplied a $203,745 match for the project.

The city maintains the light poles ALDOT installed during construction of the northbound Hudson bridge in the late ’90s.

Nighttime lane closures to replace lighting on U.S. 31 southbound and the bridge will be scheduled for later dates.