Providence Road bridge set to open in November

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Construction on the Providence Road bridge is expected to be completed by November, weather permitting, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Spencer Robinson, Project Director of the Improve I-70: Rocheport to Columbia project, said that a few pieces of the bridge are slightly ahead of schedule. He clarified that the on- and off-ramps connected to the bridge will likely open before the bridge itself.

Robinson attributed the early openings to the weather "cooperating" with plans and staying dry.

According to Robinson, the next major step is tearing out the old road. Crews do this by using a machine to break up the old pavement, removing the pieces, and then paving the new road.

The pavement on the new bridge is planned to be poured the week of October 5th.

"So we should have that open very soon. Afterwards, probably a few weeks after that," Robinson said, talking about the bridge.

The Rocheport to Columbia section of the Improve I-70 project has a fixed budget of $425 million.

The entire Improve I-70 project has a $2.3 billion estimated cost.

Robinson said drivers will start seeing openings on the Providence Road bridge in the future.