Drivers detoured during St. Charles Road bridge closure

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Drivers can no longer use the St. Charles Road bridge to access I-70 in Columbia, as the Missouri Department of Transportation is expected to wrap up demolition of the bridge on Monday morning.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw the bridge demolished and final cleanup work being done Sunday morning. Several cranes and frontloaders were also seen in a section of I-70 between where the bridge had been.

Traffic on I-70 is temporarily being moved to the on- and off-ramps during demolition. The ramps are expected to reopen after demolition. However, drivers will still be unable to use St. Charles Road to cross I-70 for the next several months during construction.

Columbia Public Schools alerted commuters of the change with increased backups expected during peak school hours, such as in the morning and afternoon, and on alternate roads like Route Z, Paris Road and Rangeline.

The closure is also expected to impact several schools on the East side of Columbia, with CPS recommending alternate routes to locations such as Battle High School, Cedar Ridge and Two Mile Prairie Elementary.

Drivers on I-70 are recommended to use the more eastern Exit 133 instead of Exit 131. They can then use Route Z to head North or South to nearby schools.

Drivers heading southbound on Highway 63 are encouraged to exit at Route B or Paris Road and head east on Mexico Gravel Road.

Drivers going northbound on Highway 63 are recommended to exit at Discovery Parkway onto Rolling Hills Road. Drivers can then use Richland Road, onto Rangeline Road then Route Z to get to nearby schools.

CPS also advises drivers to leave early and warns that bus routes may experience delays. According to prior reporting, a spokesperson for DS Bus Lines, which provides transportation for Columbia Public Schools, said bus pickup times will remain the same.

Completed construction will allow three lanes of traffic onto I-70 as well as a taller and pedestrian-friendly overpass bridge.

Bridge demolition is expected to be complete at 6 a.m. Construction in the area is expected to continue through the end of September.