Work will soon get underway to replace the Westbound Business 60 (Pine Street) bridge over the Black River and Union Pacific railroad in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Weather permitting, construction will begin Wednesday, Sept. 7 with completion anticipated by Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. During construction, westbound traffic will be shifted to a head-to-head configuration on the eastbound bridge. The head-to-head configuration will allow one lane of traffic in each direction. Riverview Drive and B Street will be closed during construction, and parking will not be allowed underneath the bridge along Riverview Drive.  The bridge is included in Gov. Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state.  The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. 

U.S 67 & Route 160/158: Construction of the first phase of the U.S. Route 67/Future I-57 project in Butler County is underway. This work includes upgrading the Route 160/158 interchange south of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The interchange will be reconfigured with two roundabouts in place of the current loop ramps in the northwest and southeast quadrants. As work continues, Route 160/158 will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction, and Route 67 will remain minimally impacted. Motorists should anticipate construction equipment and contractor crews in the area. Additional information detailing impacts to traffic will be released prior to the start of paving. Tentatively, paving is anticipated to begin in 2023. Completion is anticipated Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, weather permitting. This phase of the project received funding through Governor Mike Parson’s cost share program.

Improvements to Route 53 in Dunklin and Butler Counties will soon get underway. The project includes bridge work and pavement improvements from Route 25 in Holcomb, Missouri to Route 67 in Poplar Bluff. As construction is underway, Route 53 will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction in each work location. Work will begin with improvements to the bridge located between County Road 211 and County Road 215 near Qulin. Next, contractor crews will perform pavement repairs and replace guardrail in various locations along Route 53. Asphalt paving will then begin at Holcomb and move north until reaching Poplar Bluff. The project will begin Monday, March 27, with completion anticipated by Wednesday, Nov. 1, weather permitting.

Route 142 in Butler County will be closed as contractor crews replace the bridge over Cane Creek Ditch. This section of roadway is located between County Road 343 and County Road 353 near Neelyville, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, May 22 with completion anticipated Thursday, Aug. 17 with work taking place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.  This bridge is included in Gov. Mike Parson's $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state.