Storm extends I-70 bridge inspections for a day

UPDATE: The Missouri Department of Transportation said last Friday’s storm will extend its bridge inspection project by a day at the Boone and Cooper County line.

The agency said on Monday night that the Friday storms canceled the inspections on the eastbound lanes of the Interstate 70 bridge over the Missouri River scheduled for that day. MoDOT said crews will inspect those lanes on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to make up for it. That inspection will close one eastbound lane.

ORIGINAL: The Missouri Department of Transportation will close one eastbound lane Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which may cause traffic delays for the morning and afternoon commute.

MoDOT has been conducting a comprehensive inspection on the bridge ahead of rehabilitation work that’s scheduled for 2020.

The department will close one westbound lane from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wednesday is the last scheduled day for the inspection.

MoDOT reminds drivers to allow extra travel time while the inspections take place and to also use the zipper merge method. This means allowing one car in front to merge into one lane. It says traffic will flow 40 to 50% smoother when drivers use this method.

(Editor’s note, 4/1, 10 p.m.: This story has been updated from a previous story, titled ‘One eastbound lane of I-70 bridge over Missouri River closed Monday’.) Sign up for email news alerts by clicking here