Lawrence County – Contractor crews will begin work to return I-44 east of Mt. Vernon (between Mile Markers 46-47) to its normal traffic pattern – two lanes in each direction, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
Currently, traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction. Starting at 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, crews will begin the process of opening I-44 to four lanes.
Here’s a look at the plan for opening the highway lanes:
- Contractor crews will remove existing stripe and replace with final pavement markings
- Traffic will temporarily shift to one lane in each direction using inside lanes while the contractor completes pavement work in outside lanes
- When that work is complete, by Saturday, Dec. 7, traffic will be opened to normal pattern -- two lanes in each direction
- County Road 1147 (Railroad Drive) will remain closed until late December while the contractor completes final work on that part of the project including installation of guardrail and lighting
After that, all lanes of I-44 in the Mt. Vernon area will be open and in their normal traffic pattern from now until spring 2020 when work will resume on replacing or rehabilitating the remaining 13 bridges in the project.
Remaining bridges scheduled for replacement or rehabilitation:
- Eastbound and westbound bridges over railroad tracks at Mile Marker 29.2 near Sarcoxie
- Eastbound and westbound bridges over Center Creek at Mile Marker 29.4 near Sarcoxie
- Westbound bridge over railroad tracks at Mile Marker 43.2 west of Mount Vernon
- Westbound bridge over Spring River at Mile Marker 43.4 west of Mount Vernon
- Westbound bridge over Lawrence County Route H at Mile Marker 44.3 in Mount Vernon
- Eastbound and westbound bridges over Goose Creek at Mile Marker 56.1 near Halltown
- Eastbound and westbound bridges over Turnback Creek at Mile Marker 56.7 near Halltown
- Eastbound and westbound bridges over Missouri Route 96 at Mile Marker 58 near Halltown
Weather and/or unforeseen delays will alter the work schedule.
Project Background:
- I-44 Project Bridge Rebuild will replace or rehabilitate a total of 19 bridges on I-44 between Sarcoxie and Halltown
- Some existing bridges are original to the construction of I-44 in the 1960s and are deteriorating and need replacement or rehabilitation
- Project website/sign up for project updates I-44 Project Bridge Rebuild.
- Total project cost: $36 million
- Overall completion date: Dec. 15, 2021
(For more information, call MoDOT in Springfield at 417-895-7600 or visit www.modot.org/southwest)
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