HANNIBAL - Weather permitting, in mid-April, bridge rehabilitation work is scheduled to begin on the Interstate 72 Mark Twain Memorial Bridge near Hannibal. During the first few weeks of work, eastbound and westbound I-72 across the bridge will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction.
In late April/early May, the I-72 bridge will close for up to 30 days. To expedite the work and minimize traffic impacts, the schedule includes crews working in two shifts to replace the bearings on one end of the bridge's truss span. The closure period is dependent on weather and any work-related issues that may arise during bearing replacement.
Traffic will be detoured to cross the Mississippi River at West Quincy. Travelers in Missouri will utilize U.S. Route 61 to U.S. Route 24 to West Quincy. Motorists in Illinois will use Interstate 72 to Interstate 172 to Illinois 104 to reach Missouri. Message boards and signs will be put in place in Illinois and Missouri to alert motorists of the closure with signed detours.
The Mark Twain Memorial Bridge opened in 2000 and carries just over 17,500 vehicles daily. Bridge painting was completed last summer as part of the rehabilitation work. Routine maintenance and rehabilitation work address deterioration caused by normal use and environmental elements. This work keeps bridges in good condition and maintains the operational life of the structure. Additional bridge maintenance, including bridge washing, will be performed later this summer with minor impacts to traffic.
For more information on this project, contact Gerri Jeffries, Missouri Department of Transportation at gerri.jeffries@modot.mo.gov. Work is weather dependent, and schedules are subject to change. The public will be updated on this project through signs, message boards, news releases and social media.
Motorists will see work in Illinois as well. This week, the Illinois Department of Transportation began bridge inspections on the Bayview Bridge over the Mississippi River. The bridge will be restricted to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction in place through the duration of the project which is scheduled to be completed at the end of April. For more information on the Bayview Bridge work, please contact Paul Wappel at paul.wappel@illinois.gov or Joe Schatteman at joe.schatteman@illinois.gov with the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Additionally, the City of Quincy will begin work in April along Broadway to replace the water main from North 12th Street to North 24th Street and will continue through early summer. For more information on this work, please contact the City of Quincy.
Work with us in the work zone! Please obey all work zone signs and personnel. With an increased number of highway work zones, we urge all drivers to pay attention every second, especially through a work zone. Be informed of your route by checking the MoDOT Traveler Information Map and IDOT Traveler Information Map on GettingAroundIllinois.com before you travel.