ST. LOUIS – Drivers on Interstate 55 heading into or leaving the city of St. Louis should be prepared for increased congestion as work begins on a three-year project.
This project, replaces or renovates 13 interstate bridges in both directions between Interstate 44 in the city of St. Louis and Lindbergh. In addition, crews will replace barrier between the northbound and southbound lanes of I-55 and resurface the roadway. Bridge work will start on the north side of the corridor this year and barrier work will begin south of Virginia Avenue.
Monday, April 4, starting after morning rush, crews will close two southbound lanes on I-55 between 3200 Broadway and Potomac to start work on the project. The ramp from Lafayette to southbound I-55 will close at this time. Two lanes of northbound traffic will be shifted to share the southbound lanes of the interstate by late April. When the northbound lanes shift, the ramps to 3200 Broadway (Exit 206B) and Arsenal (Exit 206C) will also be closed. Traffic will remain narrowed and shifted through the remainder of the year. When construction is completed on the northbound bridges, a similar lane shift will be in place in 2023 to work on the southbound bridge.
“Since we will reduce the size and number of lanes in this area as we work on these bridges, we anticipate that there will be significant backups – somewhat similar to those on I-44 when we were working on those bridges. If possible, drivers should consider adjusting commute times – especially during morning or evening commutes -- or using alternate routes to get to their destinations. We understand that this will have impacts on those people who regularly use this corridor and we appreciate driver’s patience as we complete this needed maintenance work,” said Jennifer Wade, P.E., MoDOT area engineer for the city of St. Louis.
This project will include additional lane shifts and ramp closures as crews complete work along the corridor. Information on those closures will be shared as they are determined.
Paving along this corridor is expected to start once the work on the bridges is complete
Before July, crews will close both directions of Interstate 55 near Reavis Barracks over a weekend to remove the pedestrian bridge over I-55 just north of Reavis Barracks. This pedestrian bridge has been closed, for safety, for more than two years, and will not be replaced. Details on that closure will be shared when they are determined.