HANNIBAL – Access to U.S. 61/McMasters from Pirate Pride Drive and Stardust Drive will reopen on Friday, August 3, three days ahead of schedule. Contractors have made a concentrated effort to ensure the intersection reopened as soon as possible.
While a temporary signal configuration will be put in place until the permanent structures arrive, the intersection will be functional but will not have the permanent aesthetic appearance when the intersection opens. Permanent pole structures should arrive by the beginning of October and will be placed during nighttime hours as to cause minimal impact to traffic. “This is a significant milestone in the project,” stated MoDOT Area Engineer, Brian Haeffner, P.E. “The reopening of this major gateway to area retailers and the school will be welcomed by the traveling public from a convenience standpoint,” he added. “We appreciate the patience of those businesses that have been affected by the construction,” expressed Haeffner.
Contractors continue to work on the sidewalk, curb and gutter on the west side of McMasters. The section between Stardust Drive and the I-72 interchange remains right in, right out only turns; no left turns. Once the sidewalk, curb and gutter work is completed, the center turn lane will be reopened which is anticipated by mid-August.
“Thank you to all the drivers who are traveling through this area who obey the work zone signs and put down their cell phone while crews work to improve this roadway,” said Haeffner.
For more information contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636). or the MoDOT Northeast District site at www.modot.mo.gov/northeast, or sign up for specific McMasters Project updates through email and text alerts https://www6.modot.mo.gov/eMoDOTWeb/jsp/signon/signon.jsp.