COOPER COUNTY - A bridge deck replacement on Route 179 over Interstate 70 in Cooper County has been completed and the bridge is now open to traffic.

The Route 179 bridge over I-70 is located at the 111 mile marker. The original structure was built in 1958 and was 220 feet long and 24 feet wide. The new bridge deck widens the driving surface to 26 feet.

Work began on March 31 and the bridge was closed to traffic until Monday, May 18. MoDOT extends its thanks to motorists for their patience while the work was underway.

The deck replacement cost approximately $320,000.00. The improvements are 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. 

Two additional bridges are currently under construction in Central Missouri. There are 31 bridges currently under construction across the state.

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. You can also follow MoDOT's Central District on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MoDOT_Central.