Lane closures expected as work continues on Interstate 70 bridge near Rocheport

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Eastbound Interstate 70 should expect delays for the next couple of weeks while the early phases of replacing the bridge over the Missouri River near Rocheport.

However, Brandi Baldwin, MoDOT project director, says the biggest impact for drivers on I-70 near Rocheport won't last too much longer.

Baldwin said, "Over the next couple weeks is our biggest impact to the drivers while we get them shifted towards the median, and then next spring we are going to actually fill out the median and get that third lane in place to give them even more room so that will be the next biggest impact."

Baldwin said, that the closure of one eastbound lane on the bridge will continue as work progresses. She said crews plan to only close one lane each way at a time during this phase of work.

Crews contracted by the Missouri Department of Transportation are working to replace the bridge and the Route BB overpass that goes into Rocheport.

Two new bridges will span the river when the project ends in 2024.

Baldwin said the project is needed in part because I-70 is too narrow, leading to more crashes, especially during the colder seasons. Each bridge will have three lanes and wider shoulders, she said.

MoDOT rendering of new bridges

Baldwin says the project will be completed by the end of 2024 but MoDOT will have the first bridge in place by late spring 2023. The existing bridge will be demolished in summer 2023.

"You'll see us down in the river bottom driving piling -- big, 4-foot metal casings. We'll be driving those for piling and we'll also be in the river drilling for our drilled shafts," Baldwin said.

Videos of the construction will be posted on MoDOT's project website.

The project is expected to cost $220 million.