The steel "shell" of the bridge that will connect the new Health Sciences Research Building and the Emory-Children's Center will be put into place over Haygood Drive during the weekend of March 9. The structure is 175 feet long and 35 feet wide and weighs 200,000 pounds.

Two cranes will be needed to move the bridge, and just lifting it up will take about eight hours, according to Charlie Andrews, senior associate vice president for space planning and construction. When completed, the bridge will do more than connect two buildings. It will be a working bridge, with research offices and "dry" research space.

Placing the bridge frame above the street will necessitate the closure of Haygood Drive from Andrews Circle (at Druid Hills High School) to Clifton Road. The road will be closed during these times:

• 7 p.m., Friday, March 9 to 6 a.m., Monday, March 12
• 7 p.m., Friday, March 23 to 5 a.m., Monday, March 26

During the weekend of March 23, workers will build a steel platform on which to stand to continue bridge construction, which is expected to last six months.

Access to Druid Hills High School and to the Lowergate and Tower parking decks will not be affected. Emory shuttle service also will not be affected.

Drivers should expect periodic one-lane road closures on Haygood Drive after 7 p.m. from March 9 to April 9.

The Health Sciences Research Building is expected to be completed in April 2013.

For real-time views of the construction site of the Health Sciences Research Building, see photos from webcam.