HANNIBAL – The Missouri Department of Transportation is working to determine the best course of action to repair and safely reopen Missouri Route 3 south of Huntsville after it was closed due to an unstable area causing a slide near the road. In the meantime, it will remain closed between U.S. Route 24 and Route BB until further notice for the safety of all drivers.
“The safety of the traveling public is our primary concern,” said MoDOT Area Engineer Brian Untiedt. “This area has unique features underground that need to be studied to ensure the repair of the slide and road are safe and permanent,” he explained.
MoDOT has worked with the nearby quarry who has shared geotechnical information about the property in and around the slide. “We have hired a consultant to obtain additional information to help us learn the best way to work with the soil and its materials in the area in order to make the area more stable and safer,” Untiedt explained.
The project has been added to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program in the “scoping” section, which allows MoDOT engineers to begin evaluating design options. “We will allocate funds for the project when we have a good estimated cost,” Untiedt noted.
Because there are so many unknowns at this time, it will likely be 2022 or after before the road will be able to be reopened. “There are about a thousand vehicles a day that travel Route 3; we appreciate everyone’s patience and understand the frustration of having to detour,” Untiedt said.
MoDOT’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that is safe, innovative, reliable and dedicated to a prosperous Missouri. Please do your part to help us achieve a safe system by wearing your seat belt every time and putting your phone down while driving…for your safety and our workers. Take the pledge – Buckle Up, Phone Down.