You may think Memorial Day weekend is the biggest traffic headache of the season. Most years, you’d be right. This year, you’d be wrong.

Next weekend, May 30 to June 2,work will begin on the Newton-Weston Bridge near I-95, and that means traffic congestion of biblical proportions.

“While accelerated bridge construction methods will be used to replace the bridge, this project will significantly impact travelers during this weekend,” the Massachusetts Department of Transportation website information on the project reads.

I-90 between exits 123 and 125 will be cut down to just one lane from that Friday night through the following Monday morning,

Massachusetts Transportation officials predict delays could be as long as three hours in that area. Since no one will be there to part the gridlock like the Red Sea, drivers are urged to seek alternate routes if possible and avoid that part of I-90 and that area of I-95 like a plague.

In Newton itself, you should expect heavy traffic congestion along Commonwealth Avenue, Route 9, Washington Street and Beacon Street and adjoining side streets.

Thinking of taking the train out of town? That bridge brings that part of the interstate over MBTA commuter rail tracks, so service on the Worcester line will be interrupted, too.

Even Amtrak’s line to Albany is out of service that weekend.

Practically apocalyptic. And it’s happening again on the weekend of June 20 to 23.

Businesses will likely be affected, too, as Charles River Chamber President Greg Reibman recently warned that organization’s members in his email newsletter.

“Even if you don’t use the Pike yourself, consider how it will impact your employees, your customers, your deliveries and any events you may have been planning or hoped to attend,” Reibman wrote.

The work is part of a massive $400 million project involving eight bridges that are in need of replacement or rehabilitation, according to MassDOT.

Five of the bridges will be replaced, one will be rehabilitated, and two will have their superstructure replaced. There will also be a number of bridge and roadway safety improvements as part of the project.

According to MassDOT, the work next weekend will entail:

• installing excavation supports (pile driving)
• installing permanent abutment piles (pile driving, daytime and nighttime work)
• installing drainage infrastructure
• widening ramp embankments
• Removing existing median barrier
• excavating new pier locations.

Anyone driving in the work area is asked to be especially vigilant of signage, workers and police details.