Greene County – Contractor crews will work to replace the I-44 bridge over Pickerel Creek west of Springfield near Mile Marker 64.2 in Greene County when they begin building crossover lanes in the median starting the week of May 15, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
Once that work is complete, the bridge will CLOSE for the duration of the project as crews demolish the existing bridge and build the new one. Both lanes of westbound I-44 traffic will be shifted onto the eastbound bridge during construction which is expected to last until late fall 2023.
In addition, the contractor will add new barrier walls, guardrail at the ends of the bridge, and new permanent striping.
This bridge was built in 1960 and is in a deteriorating condition. Nearly 40,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily.
Traffic Impacts:
- Drivers can expect traffic reduced to one lane on westbound I-44 during nighttime hours (7 p.m.-7 a.m., Monday-Sunday) while contractor crews build crossover lanes in the median
- Speed limit reduced to 60 mph through the work zone during single-lane configuration
- All westbound I-44 lanes OPEN to traffic during daytime hours
- When crossover lanes are completed, westbound Pickerel Creek bridge will CLOSE and both westbound I-44 lanes will be shifted to the eastbound Pickerel Creek bridge
- Two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained in this configuration for the duration of the project, which is expected to last until late fall 2023
- Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone
- Drivers should consider alternate routes during the project
- Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts
Weather and/or construction delays could alter the work schedule.
This work is part of a three-year project to improve 25 bridges within 15 miles of I-44 across the Southwest District. Of the 25 bridges in the project, known as the I-44 Corridor Bridge Bundle, seven (7) are mainline I-44 bridges, five (5) are I-44 overpass bridges and the remaining bridges are on adjacent routes over various features. Sixteen (16) bridges will be replaced and nine (9) bridges will receive major rehabilitation work.
More information about this project can be found on the project website – I-44 Corridor Bridge Bundle.
Project Details:
- Prime Contractor – The ESS Team
- Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. – Columbia
- Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. – St. Louis
- Total Project Cost: $43.2 million
- Contract Completion Date: September 30, 2024
The ESS Team is a partnership of engineering and construction firms that will design and construct the project with oversight by MoDOT and the Federal Highway Administration.
(For more information, call MoDOT in Springfield at 417-895-7600 or visit www.modot.org/southwest)
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