LEWISTON – A Northern Utilities gas line replacement project will close the northbound lane of Lincoln Street between Cross and Main streets beginning Tuesday.

That lane will be completely closed while the work is being done, and northbound Main Street traffic will be detoured around the area.

The lane from Main Street south will be open, however.

The company is being required to replace all cast-iron gas mains in Lewiston and Auburn as part of a settlement with the state Public Utilities Commission. That came after a January 2004 explosion on Main Street in Lewiston that was blamed on a leaking Northern Utilities gas line.