Delays expected for drivers as westbound traffic moves to new I-70 Missouri River Bridge

ROCHEPORT, Mo. (KMIZ)

Drivers traveling on I-70 and the Route BB interchange should anticipate delays over the weekend, as westbound traffic moves to the new I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport.

Beginning at 7:00 p.m. Friday, those vehicles will be the first to use the new westbound bridge that's part of the Rocheport Bridge Project.     

The Route BB bridge over I-70 will also be demolished over the weekend for reconstruction. 

The project is being led by Lunda Construction. The construction will require narrowing I-70 to one lane and rerouting of I-70 traffic at exit 115.

Rerouting of traffic this weekend:

• Eastbound lanes will narrow to one lane
• Drivers will be directed over the ramps at Exit 115 and back onto I-70 eastbound into two lanes
• Westbound traffic will be narrowed to one lane as travelers approach Exit 115
• Eastbound traffic on I-70 will not be able to use Exit 115 to access Route BB 
• Route BB traffic will not be able to access eastbound I-70 at the overpass

The Boone County fire protection district and Cooper county fire department will work together in order to ensure delays wont effect their response times in the case of an emergency. Boone County will cover everything West to Highway 111, while Cooper County covers the 111 to the 114.

"You know we've got kind of a plan laid out, but we're gonna see what happens you know," Cooper County fire protection chief, Dave Gehm said. "It's gonna be, it's gonna be fluid... it's gonna be changing depending on the wreck, if there's a wreck... if there's a medical...if there's a vehicle fire, it just depends on what it is."

However, Gehm said as long as people obey the rules by putting their phones down, paying attention to detour signs and following the speed limit, no incidents should be expected.

"If people pay attention, there's not gonna be any issues because traffic, the speed limit is 20 miles an hour," Gehm said. "I mean you can bump into somebody in front of you 20 miles an hour and there's not gonna be much damage. It's just when if people aren't paying attention, and they come around a curve or over the top of the hill and traffic's almost at a dead stop that's when we have issues."

Employees of a local business in the area, The Tasting Room on the Blufftop told ABC 17 News that it expects business to slow down this weekend while construction occurs. Employees also noted being frustrated with the Missouri department of transportation for not telling them in advance about construction.

Drivers can expect delays this weekend until 5 a.m. on Monday.

Completion of the project isn't expected until 2024.