ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Work to replace the southbound bridge deck on Interstate 29 over the Nodaway River continues. Contractors from Emery Sapp and Sons, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, plan to begin construction of crossover lanes in the median just north and south of the bridge, located between mile markers 66 and 67 on Monday, April 2. During crossover construction, which is planned to continue through April 13, one lane in each direction of I-29 will be closed.
The crossover lanes are necessary, as traffic will be moved head to head in the northbound lanes while the contractors replace the old bridge deck in the southbound lanes. This allows contractors to safely complete their work without closing the road and detouring southbound traffic several miles around the project. The traffic pattern switch is planned for mid-April immediately after crossover construction is complete and will continue to the end of August.
All schedules are weather dependent and subject to change.
The Nodaway River Bridge was built at the border of Holt and Andrew counties in 1966. For perspective on the age of the bridge, that same year “Batman” and “Star Trek” debuted on television, a NASA spacecraft orbited the moon for the first time, Pampers created the first disposable diaper, miniskirts were in fashion, and Ronald Reagan began his political career in California.
A lot has changed since then, including the amount of cars on the bridge. Today more than 6,000 cars and trucks make their way across the span each day, adding to the wear and tear on the bridge’s surface, also known as the bridge deck.
For more information about this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636
) or visit www.modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map. In addition, MoDOT provides updated information on Twitter @MoDOTNorthwest and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.
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