Greene and Christian Counties – Area residents and Route 65 drivers are invited to learn more about upcoming road construction projects that will widen Route 65 between Evans Road and Christian County Route CC/J in Ozark and make major repairs to the Evans Road bridge over Route 65 in south Springfield at a July 31 public meeting, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
The public meeting is scheduled for 4:30-6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, at the Mercy Orthopedic Hospital, 3050 E. River Bluff Boulevard (southwest corner of Evans Road/Route 65 interchange). The meeting will be come-and-go with NO FORMAL PRESENTATION planned. Those who attend can come at any time between 4:30 and 6 p.m.
Anyone unable to attend the in-person meeting can view the same exhibits and give their suggestions at an online public meeting at www.modot.org/southwest.
Contractor crews are scheduled to begin work in mid-to late August on replacing the bridge deck/driving surface on Evans Road over Route 65. The work will require Evans Road at Route 65 to CLOSE until late December.
The project will widen Route 65 to six lanes between a point south of Evans Road and Christian County Routes CC/J in Ozark. The widen project will begin in mid-to late August as well and continue until August 2019.
Here’s a look at the projects:
- Widen Route 65 to six lanes — three lanes in each direction — between a point south of Evans Road and Christian County Routes CC/J to continue the progress to six lane Route 65 south to Ozark
- Widen and rehabilitate southbound Route 65 bridge over Farmer’s Branch south of Evans Road to accommodate new lanes
- Rehabilitate Evans Road bridge over Route 65
Expected traffic impacts on Route 65:
- Nighttime lane closings on Route 65
- Two lanes open in each direction on Route 65 during daytime hours. However, traffic congestion is expected.
- Route 65 traffic shifts to accommodate bridge work at Farmer’s Branch
Expected traffic impacts on Evans Road over Route 65:
- Evans Road at Route 65 CLOSED from August until December 2018
- Ramps open at Evans Road/Route 65 interchange
- Route 65 drivers must use Routes CC/J and Battlefield Road interchanges to reach destinations during Evans Road closing
- Evans Road drivers encouraged to use alternate routes to reach destinations
- No signed detour is planned
The prime contractor is Millstone Weber, LLC of St. Charles.
The estimated total project cost is $10.2 million.
The project is scheduled for completion in August 2019.
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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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(For timely traffic information in the Springfield area, visit www.ozarkstraffic.com)