Springfield, Greene County – The third and final phase of a project to rebuild the 1970s-era, original concrete pavement on U.S. Route 65 between Sunshine Street and U.S. Route 60 in southeast Springfield this summer will be the focus of a June 20 public meeting, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
Route 65: THE REBUILD will have significant impacts to Route 65 traffic for up to 35 days between early August and mid-to-late September.
The public meeting will be held from 4:30 until 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, at Springfield Fire Station #12, 2455 S. Blackman Road. Those who attend can get information about the construction schedule, the traffic impacts and ask questions of MoDOT and contractor representatives. The meeting will be come-and-go style with NO FORMAL PRESENTATION. People can stop by at any time during the meeting.
Those unable to attend the in-person meeting can visit an online public meeting at www.modot.org/southwest, click on Route 65: THE REBUILD Final Phase.
Traffic impacts during construction:
- Route 65 CLOSED in one direction at a time in short sections between interchanges between Sunshine Street and Route 60
- Sections of Route 65 CLOSED one to two weeks at a time
- Interchange ramps CLOSED at times, including ramps at the 60/65 interchange
- Signed detour: I-44 to Route 360/60 (James River Freeway) and I-44 to Missouri Route 125 to U.S. Route 60
- All lanes of Route 65 OPEN during Labor Day holiday weekend
- Temporary traffic signals:
- Blackman Road and Battlefield Road
- Greene County Route D and Missouri Route 125
- Project slated to begin in early August and be complete by mid-September
- Closings will last up to 35 days
Project highlights:
- Replace the two lanes of original concrete pavement on Route 65 between Sunshine Street and Route 60
- Replace a section of the southbound Route 65-to-westbound Route 60 ramp
- Upgrade guardrail between Sunshine Street and Route 60
- Rebuild asphalt shoulders in areas
The original concrete pavement between Sunshine Street and Route 60, built in the 1970s, has outlived its useful life and is deteriorating to the point where it must be replaced. The inside lane in each direction closest to the median is new pavement which was constructed in 2010-2011 when Route 65 was widened to six lanes. Also, no work is planned for ramp lanes built between Sunshine Street and Battlefield Road in 2015.
To complete the project quickly and safely requires Route 65 to be closed in sections to remove the old concrete pavement and replace it with new concrete.
The estimated total project cost is $8.1 million.
The overall project completion date is November 1, 2019.
The prime contractor is Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc. of Columbia.
Route 65: THE REBUILD History:
- Phase I: Replaced the original concrete pavement between Kearney Street and Sunshine Street. Completed in 2017. Total project cost: $7.9 million.
- Phase II: Replaced the original concrete pavement on southbound Route 65 between Valley Water Mill Road and Kearney Street and replaced the aging southbound Route 65 bridge over I-44. Completed in 2018. Total project cost: $4.3 million.
- With the completion of Phase III, all 1970s-era concrete pavement will have been replaced, the new pavement should last another 40-to-50 years.
END
(For more information, call MoDOT in Springfield at 417-895-7600 or visit www.modot.org/southwest)
(Follow MoDOT's Southwest District: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |YouTube)
(For timely traffic information in the Springfield area, visit www.ozarkstraffic.com)