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Commuters driving across the Bay Bridge may face longer than normal traffic delays in the coming days due to the start of a two-month construction project on the bridge's western span. 

Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus said the department is replacing six expansion joints on the bridge's upper deck and will be placing steel plates on the roadway to accommodate the work. 

The one-inch plates are in place in lanes this morning and are causing significant delays on the bridge. 

Haus said drivers going over the tapered plates would likely slow down or come to a complete stop until they are used to driving over the plates. 

"We've done this before, and usually people become accustomed to them after a few days," Haus said. 

Haus said people do generally slow down when going over the plates, but there is no need to come to a complete stop before driving over them. 

California Highway Patrol officials said there were delays reported this morning near the toll plaza, but there was no official estimate of how long the delays were. 

Haus said the project is scheduled to go for 60 days and should be completed by the end of December. 

Caltrans has activated changeable message boards to alert drivers of the project, and officials are advising motorists to expect some delays for the duration of the project and to allow for additional travel time.