Newton/McDonald Counties -- A project to smooth the concrete pavement on Route 71 between Route 59 near Goodman and Route 60 near Neosho is scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 28, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

The project will require daytime lane closings were contractor crews are set up working. Crews plan to be on the road between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The project will use a diamond-grinding process to smooth the concrete pavement. The purpose of the project is to smooth the concrete helping to reduce wear at joints in the pavement. It also smooths the "ride" of the pavement.

Contractor crews are scheduled to begin work at the south end of the project at Route 59 in the northbound lanes and move north.

The project calls for smoothing the pavement in both the northbound and southbound lanes of Route 71.

Traffic Impacts:

* One lane will be closed where crews are set up working.

* Drivers should be alert for the work zone and merge into the open lane.

Weather and/or construction delays will alter the work schedule.

Safety Grooving and Grinding of Napoleon, Ohio, is the prime contractor doing the work for a low bid amount of $793,000.

The project is scheduled for completion by the end of May.

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