Greene County – Interstate 44 drivers can expect traffic reduced to one lane and shifted to the median in the eastbound direction at Pickerel Creek (Mile Marker 64.2) west of Springfield starting the week of Oct. 1 as work progresses on a bridge replacement project, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
Drivers can expect major delays on eastbound I-44 as traffic will merge into one lane. Motorists are urged to consider alternate routes until December when the project is completed. If major delays are detected eastbound, I-44 traffic will be diverted to Missouri Route 266 which parallels I-44.
From Oct. 1 until mid-December, crews will remove and replace the eastbound I-44 bridge over Pickerel Creek.
The existing Pickerel Creek bridge, built in 1960 during the construction of I-44, has deteriorated to the point that replacement is the best option. The bridge in recent years has been in constant need of repair with frequent lane closings to complete the repair work.
Once the bridge replacement project is complete, there will be a wider eastbound I-44 bridge. MoDOT engineers made the decision to build a wider bridge to reduce the impacts to I-44 traffic. Also, the wider eastbound bridge will be used to handle traffic in the future when the westbound I-44 bridge over Pickerel Creek is replaced. However, there is no timeframe for replacing the westbound bridge.
The prime contractor is Hartman and Company of Springfield.
The total project cost is $3.4 million.
The project is scheduled for completion by mid-December 2018.
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(For more information, call MoDOT in Springfield at 417-895-7600 or visit www.modot.org/southwest)
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