JEFFERSON CITY – Travelers heading out for a long Memorial Day weekend trip won't have to deal with road construction crews in Missouri, but drivers should still be careful going through work zones.
The Missouri Department of Transportation will stop work in most routine work zones at noon Friday, May 24 and will resume at 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 28. While most work zones will not be active over the Memorial Day weekend, it may be necessary for some lane closures to remain in place.
Drivers should be aware of several on-going projects around the state, for example:
- Interstate 44: St. Louis City: Bridge and pavement rehabilitation between Murdoch and the River Des Peres (Shrewsbury). Lane shifts and closures are expected through the end of the year. Shrewsbury to EB I-44 ramp will remain closed.
- Interstate 44: St. Louis City: Bridge improvements between Kingshighway and 39th Street. Expect lane shifts and closures through December. Vandeventer ramp to WB I-44 will be closed through December.
- Interstate 70 Loutre River Bridge: Replacement 2.2 miles west of Rte. 161 near Danville; two narrow lanes will remain open.
- The I-435/I-70 Interchange (Kansas City): Interchange improvements including bridge replacement, safety upgrades, and ramp reconstruction. Construction will take two full construction seasons to complete.
- I-435 South Loop Link (Kansas City): This more-than-three-mile project between State Line Road and Three Trails Crossing replaces the bridges at Wornall and Holmes, rehabilitates the bridges at 104th Street and the Blue River, and upgrades the pavement on I-435 including adding another lane Construction will finish in spring 2020.
- I-435 Missouri River Bridge deck replacement (Clay and Jackson counties): Begins later this year and continues through 2020.
- Interstate 44 (Jasper County): Improve 19 bridges from Sarcoxie to Halltown (MM 29-58). Replace 12 bridges, rehabilitate seven bridges.
- U.S. Route 65: Rebuild pavement from Sunshine Street to U.S. Route 60 in Springfield.
- Interstate 55-U.S. Route 61 Interchange (Cape Girardeau County): Replacing I-55 brides over U.S. Route 61 and reconfiguring current interchange to a diverging diamond.
- U.S. Route 61 Resurfacing from MO-25/34 to I-55 at Fruitland (Cape Girardeau County): Nightly lane closures from Missouri Route 25 to Route D; daily lane closures north of Route D.
A map detailing work zones can be found at: https://www.modot.org/work-zone-awareness
Distracted driving and following too closely are two of the main causes of work zone crashes. Drivers are reminded to pay attention to warning signs, wear seat belts, put their phone down, obey the speed limit, don’t drink and drive and plan ahead.
Eight people died and 124 others were injured in traffic crashes over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Information on all MoDOT work zones statewide is available on the department’s Traveler Information Map located at www.modot.org. The map is available as a free app available for iPhone and Android phones. Motorists can also call MoDOT’s 24/7 customer service toll free at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).
For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.
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