Routine bridge inspection on I-70 near Rocheport to continue through Thursday

Despite a 30-minute to one-hour delay due to dense fog, Missouri Department of Transportation crews on Monday morning were able to start the first day of bridge inspections on the Missouri River Bridge on I-70 near Rocheport.

Crews closed the right lane on the westbound side from about 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Drivers should expect the right lane to be closed again on the westbound side during the same time frame Tuesday.

Crews will then work on the eastbound side of the bridge on Wednesday and Thursday and close the right lane from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jeff Madsen, MoDOT central district bridge engineer, said the right lane, westbound and eastbound, is always the lane crews close on the bridge near Rocheport because of the equipment they use and the areas of the bridge they inspect.

Madsen also said they close the roads at different times when they switch sides because a MoDOT traffic study showed that traffic is heavier westbound after 3 p.m. and heavier eastbound before 9 a.m.

According to federal law, bridges are supposed to be inspected at least once every two years.

MoDOT records show the Missouri River Bridge on I-70 near Rocheport was last inspected Aug. 24, 2015.

After that inspection, the bridge was rated overall a 5 on a scale from 1 to 9. Madsen said a rating of 5 means the bridge is in fair condition. He said even if the bridge had been rated a 4, it would still be safe to drive on.

Madsen also said that if the federal government didn’t require MoDOT crews to inspect bridges every two years, they would inspect them in that time frame anyway.