Traffic delays and jackhammering are expected each night this week in downtown St. Helena as Caltrans repairs pavement on Highway 29.

The work, which began Sunday, will be 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday as crews dig, grind and replace the pavement near Pine Street, Caltrans spokesman Marcus Wagner said.

“Noise will be inevitable. However, it will be kept within approved construction noise levels,” he said in a statement.

Asked about that, Wagner said in an interview that St. Helena has issued Caltrans a noise waiver, “so we’re good to go.”

In his statement, Wagner did say, “We appreciate your understanding and patience during this construction, and we will work diligently to minimize impacts to residents and motorists during this project.”

But that’s not going over well with Lisa Runnells, owner of the Ambrose Bierce House bed and breakfast on Highway 29, just a couple of doors down from Pine Street.

“I’m sure our guests will hate it,” she said of the noise.

She said neither she nor her husband had a chance to talk to their guests overnight before the visitors went hot air ballooning, so she didn’t have their reaction to the work.

“This could really, really hurt us,” Runnells said, explaining she fears guests may post negative ratings on travel websites over the noise.

Wagner said this week’s project is the first of several pavement repairs that Caltrans plans in the St. Helena area this month, although he didn’t have details on the other ones.

He said Caltrans had not received any complaints about the work after the first night.