Driving in Portland is going to get a little more challenging in the weeks ahead as the city undertakes major construction projects affecting State Street and Fore Street.

On Monday, a section of State Street between Park and Cumberland avenues will be closed to traffic for about three months.

The street will be closed while construction crews install a new storm drain and replace an existing sanitary sewer, city officials said in a news release Thursday. The Portland Water District and Unitil Natural Gas will also replace water mains and gas lines. Once the work has been completed, the road will be repaved.

The contractor will be required to maintain local driveway access within the work zone, Julie Sullivan, senior adviser to City Manager Jon Jennings, said in the release. The contractor must also maintain vehicle access to Grant and Sherman streets. On-street parking along State Street will be restricted during the project.

The State Street Infrastructure Project is part of the city’s effort to reduce combined sewer overflows into Back Cove.

A second construction project starting Monday will affect Fore Street between India and Hancock streets. Traffic will be restricted to one lane eastbound through the end of the year, according to the city. A temporary sidewalk will be erected along the street.

Westbound traffic should avoid that stretch of Fore Street, and drivers are being advised to use Hancock Street to Thames Street as an alternative route. City officials are urging motorists traveling between Munjoy Hill and the Old Port to use Congress and Franklin Streets to avoid delays.

Making Fore Street a one-way street will allow construction crews to do construction work on the Ocean Gateway parking garage. The seven-level garage has exits onto Fore Street and Middle Street.

Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com