BOONE COUNTY, Mo – Eastbound Interstate 70 will be down to one lane at the Missouri River bridge near Rocheport for several days as emergency repairs are made to an expansion joint on the bridge.
Missouri Department of Transportation crews will begin making the repairs at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 and will work 24 hours per day until the project is complete. MoDOT anticipates the emergency work lasting through Wednesday, May 8, but says weather or other potential work delays could cause the project to go longer into the week.
Crews will start work on the eastbound driving lane. When that is completed work will switch to the passing lane. Speed limits will be reduced to 45 mph while work takes place.
Motorists should expect significant congestion and delays, particularly during peak traffic times, such as morning and evening rush hours. If possible, drivers are encouraged to take alternative routes around the work zone, such as U.S. Routes 50 and 36.
Expansion joints are what allow the bridge to expand and contract. Similar emergency repairs were made to a different expansion joint on the same bridge in March 2017. MoDOT officials say these joint breakdowns are the result of wear and tear on the aging bridge, but that the bridge is still safe for travel as crews make the repairs.
“Our top priority is the safety of every person that crosses the bridge,” said MoDOT Central District Engineer David Silvester. “We understand the disruption this work will cause and apologize for any inconvenience drivers experience. We will be working around the clock to make these repairs and get both lanes open as quickly as possible.”
Westbound lanes on the bridge will remain open throughout the project and traffic is expected to flow normally.
For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central. Follow the MoDOT Central Missouri District on Facebook and Twitter for project updates.
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