Motorists may see some changes on Ridge Road this week as county workers begin a paving project — and county officials want to make sure residents know that the initial changes are temporary.

County Engineer Bill Bridges said the project will begin on Monday, but workers will first apply a surface treatment that may look different but will help protect the road.

“It helps seal the road and cracks and protects the underlying roadbed prior to paving,” Bridges said.

The surface treatment includes liquid asphalt and loose stone, but Bridges emphasized that won’t be permanent.

“This isn’t the final surface,” he said. “But it’s a good thing.”

The surface treatment will take about two days to apply, and then the actual leveling and paving will begin.

Bridges said motorists who do not live on Ridge Road should probably avoid it and use U.S. 29 while the project is going on.

“We’re asking the public to use caution” during the first couple of days while the surface treatment is going down, he said, “because there will be loose stone.

“If you don’t have to go down Ridge Road, stay on 29,” he said.

Leveling will take about three or four days, and then the road paving will take about a week, Bridges said.