The Sumner Tunnel is scheduled to close Friday for a one-month construction project transportation officials hope will repair corrosion and wear-and-tear that the 90-year-old structure has suffered.

The closure, which was originally planned for two months but later shortened, will allow crews to work on the tunnel’s ceiling, roadway, walls, lighting, and add additional improvements to address safety and climate change.

But the move is expected to create headaches for drivers who stick to the roadways. State transportation officials are encouraging people to use public transit, including free or discounted options, until the tunnel opens again on Aug. 5.

“We understand that the impact from this closure will be considerable for those who live and work in the area and need to travel in and out of Boston,” Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt said in a statement last month. “In recognition of that, we are providing as many options as possible to ‘Ditch the Drive’ and find alternative ways to move about the area.”

The closure will mirror a similar two-month closure last year and feature similar alternative transit options.

The MBTA will offer free rides on the Blue Line, free or reduced costs for water ferries, and reduced fares on the Newburyport-Rockport Commuter Rail line. Passengers boarding certain Chelsea bus routes, including the Silver Line 3, will have fare free services.

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Select MBTA and Commuter Rail lots and garages will offer discounted parking. RIDE trips that begin and end within three-quarters of a mile from any MBTA transit option that is free will also be free during the shutdown.

Residents can enroll in a discounted tolls program and there will be additional options for travelers heading to and from Logan Airport.

“With enhanced ferry service and the Blue Line now operating at full speed, along with our other modes, we are pleased to welcome all that choose to use mass transportation,” MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said in a statement.

Last summer’s work, which was completed on-time, focused primarily on replacing and rehabilitating the ceiling of the tunnel as well as work on the walls, light fixtures, conduits, and wiring. Work starting Friday will take aim at the road and associated elements, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

State officials have warned that a “top-to-bottom restoration” of the tunnel is the only way to keep it in service. The structure is “well beyond patches and repairs,” the agency has said.

“Corrosion and wear-and-tear have deeply impacted wall panels and gutters. There’s exposed rebar on the ceiling, and even after resurfacing, pavement conditions are poor – a fact that should be obvious to anyone who drives the length of the tunnel. Ventilation, drainage, security, and fire suppression systems all must be brought up to modern code,” MassDOT said.

A series of weekend closures from August to November will follow this year’s month-long shutdown. A full schedule is available online.