COOPER COUNTY - A bridge deck replacement on the Route 179 bridge over Interstate 70 in Cooper County will start on Tuesday, March 31, weather permitting.  The Route 179 overpass is located at exit 111.

The bridge will be closed to traffic during construction, which is scheduled through early June. Ramps to and from I-70 will remain open to traffic.  In order to cross the interstate, motorists will be detoured along I-70 to the next adjacent interchange, which would be Route 87 and Route BB, during the construction.

During the work, occasional lane drops may occur on east and westbound I-70 at this location.  

The improvements are being planned as part of MoDOT's Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program, which will improve 800 of Missouri's worst bridges in five years.  Ninety bridges will be replaced or repaired in the mid-Missouri area as a part of this program. 

For more information about the planned work or for a complete listing of bridges included in the program, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log onto www.modot.org/central.