SOUTH FORSYTH — Days of seemingly steady rain have delayed the start of a project to widen Ga. 400 through much of Forsyth County.

After a ceremonial groundbreaking Nov. 4, crews were supposed to begin the actual project Monday, which was delayed until Tuesday before being pushed further back.

As of Tuesday afternoon, and provided the weather cooperated, work was expected to start Tuesday night.

According to a news release from the state Department of Transportation, crews were going to begin on the Big Creek bridge before repairing the damaged concrete driving surface of the existing lanes on the corridor this morning.

As scheduled, crews will first mobilize for bridge work at Big Creek and Sawnee Creek.

The inside left lane will be closed for concrete repairs between McFarland Parkway/Exit 12, near the north Fulton line, and Hwy. 141/Peachtree Parkway/Exit 13. This will continue on weekdays as weather permits.

Weekday hours for northbound lane closures are 9 p.m. to noon. Weekday southbound work hours are 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Weekend work hours for northbound lane closures are 9 p.m. Fridays around the clock to noon Mondays. Closure hours for southbound lanes are 7 p.m. Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays.

Construction of one additional lane in each direction from McFarland Parkway to Hwy. 369 in north Forsyth will likely begin in the spring. The new Ga. 400-Hwy. 369 interchange will become Exit 18.

The 13.4-mile construction project is expected to cost $47.4 million and is expected to be finished by May 31, 2018, with C.W. Matthews Contracting handling the work.

Funding for the project represents a partnership between Forsyth County and the DOT.

The department has contributed $13 million and is managing the project.

The remainder — about $34.5 million — will come from the transportation bond program Forsyth County voters approved in November 2014, which will also finance a variety of other roads projects throughout the county.