Westbound traffic on a stretch of Portage Avenue will be down to one lane for most of next week, as True North Sports and Entertainment says construction on the Portage Place redevelopment in downtown Winnipeg hits “an exciting milestone.”

The arrival and assembly of a tower crane will mark the end of the deconstruction phase and the beginning of the building phase of the health-care centre of excellence at the site, a True North spokesperson said Friday.

Westbound Portage Avenue will be restricted to one lane, from Carlton to Edmonton street, starting Monday until Friday.

Traffic delays on westbound Portage and surrounding areas are expected because of the closure, the spokesperson said. Anyone planning to drive downtown during the closure should consider an alternative route or giving themselves extra travel time.

Once finished, the campus will be anchored by the health-care centre and a 19-storey housing tower, the spokesperson said.

Services and retailers remain open throughout the redevelopment, and a tenant directory can be found online.