Drivers who use Route 139 to get to the Holland Tunnel or Downtown Jersey City should find a different route for the next two weeks, state Department of Transportation officials said.

Work by the Jersey City Municipal Utility Authority at 12th Street and Jersey Avenue, where Route 139 merges with Route 78, will force the closure of the center lane of Route 139, DOT officials said.

Major delays and congestion are expected after the work begins at midnight Friday. The work is expected to take a week to complete, officials said.

The MUA will be lining a 96-inch combined sewer line, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said, noting that two lanes will be open to traffic.

The left lane lane is a turn lane only onto Jersey Avenue. The right lane will be opened for through traffic onto 12th Street leading to the tunnel. In addition, three lanes will also be closed on 12th Street between Jersey Avenue and Erie Street approaching the tunnel.

Drivers are urged to find alternate routes.