BUCHANAN, Mich. -- A large section of US12 in southwest Michigan will be completely closed to traffic for roughly two months starting next week, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced on Thursday. 

The shutdown is part of an ongoing project that started back in mid-April and has impacted the nearly seven-mile stretch of US12 from the Galien/Bertrand Township line to Mayflower Road.

Starting July 8, the section of US12 between Gardner Road and Bakertown Road will be completely shut down and detoured for culvert replacement.

That section of highway is expected to remain closed until approx. Aug. 28.

The detour route will be posted on Gardner Road, Galien Buchanan Road, and Bakertown Road.

The closure comes just days after the Redbud Track and Trail Pro Motocross event that takes place every Fourth of July weekend and brings tens of thousands of visitors into town.