HANNIBAL – As work continues on the safety improvement project located at Marion County Route F and U.S. Route 24/61, the access at Route F is scheduled to temporarily close for a period of five days beginning August 17, weather permitting.
Work has been underway on the project since last month and the final stages of this project are now being completed. “The project includes a new median crossover and a deceleration lane for southbound U.S. 24/61 traffic turning onto Route F. While the preliminary work has been completed, final work on the new entrance and tie-in necessitate the closure of the Route F access,” explained Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer, Brian Untiedt.
Changeable message signs and static signs are in place to alert motorists, as schedule changes may occur based on weather. “There will continue to be truck traffic entering and exiting the highway while work is being completed. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane throughout the limits of the project. We urge motorists to use caution when encountering work crews, slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones for your safety and the safety of our workers,” stated Untiedt. “Once the intersection and median work are complete, crews will still be active doing removals and wrapping up the final aspects of the project,” added Untiedt.
The contract in the amount of $6,997,608 was awarded earlier this year to Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. of Columbia, Missouri also includes two resurfacing projects located at:
- S. Route 61 resurfacing south of Route F to Missouri Route 168
- S. Route 24 resurfacing from U.S. Route 61 to U.S. Route 36
The resurfacing projects are complete with only minor remaining consisting of special signage and pavement marking symbols which will identify lanes of U.S. Route 24 and U.S. Route 61. Included in the resurfacing projects was the permanent shifting of traffic to one lane on the U.S. 24 overpass on U.S 61 to allow for safer movement of oncoming traffic from northbound U.S. 24 onto southbound U.S.61. In addition, similar adjustments were made to accommodate merging traffic from northbound U.S. 24 onto northbound U.S. 61.
All work zones are online at www.modot.org, and you can receive the latest news about road work in your area by signing up for e-updates.