Portions of Katy Trail closed as Missouri River bridge construction continues

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Part of the Katy Trail will close this week as contractors blast rock to build a new Interstate 70 bridge over the Missouri River.

The Department of Natural Resources said Sunday that it will be closing part of the trail from Monday to Wednesday.

The state hired Lunda Construction Company to replace the I-70 Missouri River bridge at Rocheport. The rock removal will require the part of the area to be blasted alongside the Katy Trail, DNR said in a news release.

The blasting, and closure are only set to take place during those three days, but the removal of the rock fragments will continue throughout April and the trail will be closed at night.

MoDOT Project Manager Brandi Baldwin said "We have to take about 10-15 feet off of the top of that [bluff]. So for us to do that safely we need the pedestrians out of the area for a few days."

In the news release, the DNR said there will be no trail detours during this phase of the project, because there are no safe alternative routes for visitors. "For visitors' safety, please stay out of the work zone and follow all flagging and signage in the area," DNR said in the release.

Baldwin said "Just for today through Wednesday is when we plan to have the trail closure, just for the safety of the pedestrians, and we'll get it opened up by Thursday."

Missouri State Parks maintains a park and site status map that includes the trail. The map shows the closure stretching from McBaine to Rocheport.