INDIANAPOLIS -- A big stretch of Meridian Street will be closed for two months so that work can be completed on a large-scale sewer project.

The road is closed between Raymond Street and Hanna Avenue to make way for "STEP," the Septic Tank Elimination Program, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

The work is expected to take 60 days and will result in the city taking about 550 customers off failing septic systems.

The Department of Public Works will install new sanitary sewers, lift stations and manholes to support infrastructure expansion.

The closure could prompt tough times for some businesses along Meridian, many of which are taking steps to ensure customers know they are still open.

"We do have good old reliable customers," said Lisa Castro, of Changing Seasons Greenhouse. "They've called me now for a week to see if we're going to be here and if they can get in."

Motorists can navigate around the construction zone by using Hanna to Bluff Road. They can then get on Raymond Street and ride that back to Meridian.

"To have it completely closed only to local traffic is inconvenient, really," said Amanda Choban, who lives along Meridian Street.

DPW determined that closing the entire street will make the project move faster.

"Instead of being closed for 50-some days or 60 days, it would have been closed more like 90 days," said Sarah Holsapple, of DPW. "We thought that this way was more effective, and so did the contractor."

After the sewer project is completed, DPW plans to go back and resurface the street.

The road will be accessible for local traffic during the construction project, officials said.