Springfield, Greene County – Interstate 44 at U.S. Route 65 in Springfield was OPEN to traffic in both directions at midnight Saturday, July 14.
I-44 was closed at Route 65 early Saturday morning, July 14, to allow contractor crews to remove the southbound 65 bridge over the interstate.
Southbound Route 65 at I-44 is CLOSED until late August as contractor crews begin work to replace the 50-year old, deteriorating structure that has been in need of constant repairs.
Detours remain in place for southbound Route 65 and for several ramps at the interchange that are closed as work progresses on the bridge and pavement replacement project known as Route 65: THE REBUILD.
Here’s a look at the project:
- Replace the southbound Route 65 bridge over I-44
- Rebuild southbound Route 65 pavement between Valley Water Mill Road and Kearney Street
- Rebuild ramps in areas along southbound Route 65
- Westbound I-44-to-southbound Route 65
- Southbound Route 65-to-eastbound I-44
- A portion of eastbound I-44-to-southbound Route 65
- Southbound Route 65 to Kearney Street
- No work planned for northbound Route 65 (Northbound Route 65 pavement was replaced during the installation of the flyover ramp from northbound Route 65 to westbound I-44 in 2006-2007 and other segments were replaced during the Route 65 REBUILD project in 2017)
Expected traffic impacts:
- July 14 until late August – Southbound Route 65 at I-44 CLOSED up to 48 calendar days
- Late July – Nighttime closings of I-44 at Route 65 in one direction or the other for bridge girder installation
- August 6-August 12 – Southbound Route 65 CLOSED between I-44 and Kearney Street
- August 13-August 21 – Southbound Route 65 CLOSED between Greene County Route AA and I-44
- Various ramps closed at interchange during construction
- Detours will be in place using various state routes including Glenstone Avenue (Current project to rebuild Glenstone Avenue pavement between I-44 and Kearney Street will be complete before the Route 65 project begins.)
- Weather and/or construction delays will alter the work schedule.
The entire project must be completed by November 1. However, contractor crews expect the Route 65 REBUILD project to be finished and opened to traffic by late August.
The prime contractor doing the work is Millstone Weber, Inc. of St. Charles.
The estimated total project cost is $4.3 million.
(For more information, call MoDOT in Springfield at 417-895-7600 or visit www.modot.org/southwest) (Follow MoDOT's Southwest District: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |YouTube) (For timely traffic information in the Springfield area, visit www.ozarkstraffic.com)