The state Department of Transportation temporarily closed two eastbound travel lanes of the Veterans’ Remembrance Bridge on Friday for emergency repairs to deteriorating concrete along one of the connecting bridge joints.

Eastbound travel across the Penobscot River bridge, which is part of Interstate 395 and connects Bangor and Brewer, is limited to one lane along the Exit 4 (South Main Street) approach lane on the Brewer side.

If repairs go as planned, the DOT expects to reopen the lanes by the end of next week, according to department spokesman Mark Latti.

According to Latti, DOT repair crews will work during daylight hours through the weekend to repair the bridge. They are removing the affected concrete on the bridge and will then repair the joint and replace the concrete.

Repairs on the two travel lanes are expected to take three to four days, and once the travel lanes are reopened, crews will close the Exit 4 approach lane and repair that joint, which is also expected to take three to four days, Latti said.

While the structural integrity of the bridge was never compromised, chunks of concrete were coming apart where sections of the bridge connect, causing hazards to motorists driving along the bridge, he said.

DOT was notified of the condition about 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to Latti. After inspecting the bridge joint and deteriorating concrete, transportation officials decided to shut down the two lanes and begin repairs immediately, he said.

Veterans’ Remembrance Bridge carries more than 12,000 vehicles a day, according to Latti.