The Arthur Fiedler footbridge will be closed for maintenance and painting from mid-May through the end of August. The closure will cut the most direct route from the downtown to the Charles River Esplanade during the park’s busiest time of the year. The ramped concrete pedestrian bridge links David G. Mugar Way to the Esplanade across Storrow Drive. It lies on the direct line between the Public Garden and the Esplanade’s playground and bike and foot paths. The maintenance comes at a time when vaccination rates and outdoor temperatures are rising, and Bostonians are preparing to take advantage of newfound safety and freedom.

“Closing it for several months during the peak season is difficult timing,” said Michael Nichols, executive director of the Esplanade Association.

Pedestrians should divert east to the Frances Appleton footbridge or west to the Dartmouth Street footbridge. A spokesperson for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) said pedestrian detours would be clearly marked.

Nichols especially urged citizens to enjoy the route via the Frances “Fannie” Appleton footbridge, which opened in 2018. “It’s beautiful, it’s modern, it’s ADA accessible to the most recent standards,” he said.

Crews needed to begin construction on the Arthur Fiedler Bridge within the state’s fiscal year, which ends June 30. And this summer is still expected to be less busy than normal, offering a window for repairs.

“In New England, peak outdoor season also overlaps with construction season,” Nichols said. “There may not have been a good time to do this.”

Workers will repair cracked concrete, replace expansion joints, caulk, and add anti skid waterproof surface insulation. The bridge will also be repainted to its original 1954 grey, instead of its current salmon color. “We do have some concerns about the grey color being a possible target for graffiti vandalism,” said Nichols.

The work will occur Monday through Friday, 7am to 4pm, and also Sunday through Thursday, 8pm to 5am. Daytime work will not interfere with traffic, while evening shifts will close lanes on Storrow Drive to provide vehicle access for workers.

The Esplanade Association is already preparing to partially resume events. Small group tours and fitness classes are expected to begin in the late spring, with musical concerts to return in the summer at partial capacity. These activities went online last year.

The Hatch Memorial Shell is expected to be utilized at much reduced capacity. The Association is still discussing whether to hold its 5K run in person or online, as they did last year.

“It’s going to be a quieter summer,” Nichols said.

The estimated cost of the bridge project is $1,454,000, according to DCR. Work will begin in the next couple of weeks. A DCR spokesperson was not able to provide a more precise timeline.