DISTRICT 8, SPRINGFIELD - The widening of the Kansas Expressway-Kearney Street intersection in Springfield will begin AWAY from traffic the week of July 12, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
Utility companies will have to relocate lines. Buildings on property MoDOT bought to make room for the widening must be demolished and hauled away.
The project must be completed in 70 working days. That puts completion in October or November, depending on how much bad weather the area receives.
No through lanes will be closed during daytime hours. Work that involves closing lanes will be done at night when traffic is lighter.
No work that will disrupt traffic will take place during the run of the Ozark Empire Fair. No work will be done over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The project involves:
* Adding left-turn lanes in all directions, giving the intersection dual left-turn lanes.
* Adding right-turn lanes on three corners -- eastbound Kearney, northbound Kansas Expressway and southbound Kansas Expressway. MoDOT does not have enough property on westbound Kearney Street to add a right-turn lane on that corner, but the turning radius will be improved at the corner.
* New traffic signals and new street lighting will be installed.
Kansas Expressway carries Route 13 through Springfield and Kearney Street carries Route 744.
Drivers will have access to businesses at all times, although half of a driveway may be closed when a new approach is being built. MoDOT and its contractor will work with businesses to try to avoid disruption of commerce at the intersection.
Be prepared to slow down when following another vehicle that may have to make a slow turn in front of you.
Electronic message boards set up along Kansas Expressway and Kearney Street will be used to give alerts to drivers. Updates will be provided through the news media, including the traffic reporters at a number of broadcast outlets.
The prime contractor at Kansas Expressway and Kearney Street is Hartman Construction of Springfield for a low-bid price of $1.88 million.
The widening project is one of four along Kansas Expressway and four along Glenstone Avenue being completed as part of a partnership between MoDOT and the City of Springfield, using funds from the city's 1/8-cent transportation sales tax to accelerate the work.
