A portion of Barnes Road on Colorado Springs’ east side will remain closed for up to an additional week.

Colorado Springs Utilities has extended the timeline of the Barnes Road closure between Antelope Ridge Drive and Marksheffel Road through May 13 as crews continue utility work replacing a natural gas line about 12 feet underground, a city news release said Friday afternoon.

Barnes was originally anticipated to reopen Monday, but “unforeseen underground conditions have caused a delay in completing the work.” Utility upgrades and relocations are necessary, city officials said in the release, as part of the ongoing, approximately $50 million to $60 million multi-year project to upgrade and expand a nearly 3-mile stretch of Marksheffel Road.

Drivers should plan for traffic delays and use alternate routes, officials advised.

There are two detour routes in place that bypass the road closure, directing motorists to Peterson Road and either Stetson Hills Boulevard or North Carefree Circle, the release said.

Businesses located on Barnes Road west of Marksheffel can be accessed from Antelope Ridge Drive.