Counties Impacted
St. Louis City
St. Louis
Route Impacted
70
44
Work Type
Bridge Replacement
In Progress

Project Timeline

Complete
Contract awarded

This project is anticipated to be awarded in December 2021. It is a design - bid - build contract and will be awarded to the lowest bid from a qualified contractor.

milestone_icon
Complete
Construction begins

Construction on this project begins in early 2022. 

milestone_icon
Complete
Interstate closures for bridge demolition

Depending on weather (and downtown activity), crews  will close all lanes of I-44 (including the express lanes) over a weekend in early  February to remove the bridge and ramp.

milestone_icon
Complete
Southbound Broadway over I-44 closed

Once the bridge is removed, it will remain closed until about June 2023.  Crews have to build the ramp from the express lanes (which is expected to take about six months) before they can start rebuilding the bridge.

milestone_icon
Complete
Express lanes closed

Once construction starts on the ramp, crews will narrow and shift  the two westbound lanes of I-44 heading south into the city of St. Louis. In addition, the express lanes into the city will be closed around the clock.  The express lanes will remain closed until spring 2023.

milestone_icon
Complete
Night/weekend I-44 closures for girders

Once the new express lane ramp is built, crews will start working on the Broadway bridge.  There may be weekend or overnight interstate and express lane closures to set girders for the bridge in that time.

milestone_icon
Complete
Southbound Broadway reopens

Once the bridge is completed, southbound Broadway over the interstate reopens. This is anticipated to happen in June 2023.

milestone_icon
Complete
Project complete

Once all the work is done, and the contractor has addressed all items, the project will be complete.  This is anticipated to be sometime in summer 2023.

milestone_icon

What is the situation?

The Missouri Department of Transportation needs to replace the bridge carrying southbound Broadway over Interstate 44 in the downtown city of St. Louis area.  As a part of this project, the ramp bridge carrying the exit lane from the I-70 eastbound express lanes to Broadway will also have to be removed and replaced. Although the department has continually monitored and maintained the bridge to keep it safe and operational, the bridge and ramp have planned to be replaced for several years. 

 

What is the current plan?

In 2022, MoDOT will replace the bridge across the interstate and the ramp from the express lanes.  The project will require Broadway over the interstate and the express lanes into the city to be closed for most of the year. In addition, the remaining two lanes on westbound I-44 (heading south into the city) will be narrowed and shifted.  There will be some weekend and nighttime lane closures of the interstate to remove the ramp and bridge, as well as to set girders during the project.

 

Embed
Broadway Bridge over I-44 and ramp replacement information
Is Responsive
Embedded content may not be suitable for small screens.
Embed Code

What will the impacts be?

There will be two narrowed and shifted lanes on southbound (westbound) I-44 heading into and through the downtown area.  Since the express lanes will be closed through fall 2022, drivers can expect congestion, especially during peak morning and evening traffic times.   Drivers heading to Illinois should consider using the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge instead of the MLK or the Eads Bridge.  Drivers heading downtown may want to consider exiting at Tucker or at Broadway to head into downtown. Drivers heading through downtown to south city or I-55 may want to consider using the express lanes and staying to the left.  

Travelers using southbound Broadway (north of the closed bridge) can  take a right on Cass to access downtown via Tucker Blvd.

 

Will the express lanes go back to being reversible after this work?

No. This project is only to replace the Broadway bridge and express lane ramp. Current traffic evaluations show that there is a significantly higher amount of traffic on eastbound I-70 into the city, not only during the morning rush period, but also in the afternoon and evening periods.  As such, the express lanes will remain eastbound only into the city.

Will people still be able to get into downtown?

Absolutely -- MoDOT is working very hard to ensure that all access to the existing ramps downtown remains. However, congestion levels may make it challenging or unsafe in some cases, to get to certain ramps from the express lanes.  The department is planning to include smart work zone technology at the western entrance of the I-70 express lanes to tell people travel times on both the express lanes and on eastbound I-70 approaching this bridge, so they can make an informed decision on which route might be best for them.

 

What alternatives should people consider?

Those heading into downtown, especially during morning and evening rush, may want to consider using the Tucker or Broadway ramps to get into the city to avoid the most congestion.  Drivers may also want to consider using I-170 to I-64 and enter the city that way.  Drivers heading to Illinois should consider using I-64 or the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge on I-70 to cross the river.

 

Are there other work zones that may impact travel?

In 2022, there are several major projects on interstates throughout the greater St. Louis region that may impact travel.  On I-270, there is a major bridge replacement just north of I-64 that will have lane closures and narrowed, shifted lanes. On I-255 across the Mississippi River, since one bridge will be closed, there will be one lane closed in each direction and the remaining lanes will be narrowed and shifted. On I-55 between I-44 and Holly Hills, there will be one lane closed in each direction and traffic will be narrowed and shifted. And, construction continues along the I-270 North corridor, with around the clock lane closures and traffic shifts.

 

Timeline of construction

Milestone

Date

Contract awarded

December 2021

Construction begins

 February 2022

Interstate closures for bridge demolition

February 2022

Southbound Broadway over I-44 closed

 February 2022

Express lanes closed

March 2022

Express lanes reopen

Spring 2023

Night/weekend I-44 closures for girders

Roughly October 2022

Southbound Broadway reopens

June 2023

Project complete

June 2023