Lane closures planned nightly as Rocheport bridge work progresses
ROCHEPORT, Mo. (KMIZ)
Drivers can look forward to about a month's worth of overnight lane closures as work continues on the Interstate 70 bridge over the Missouri River.
Work will be taking place on the median, prompting one lane to be closed on the eastbound side of I-70 from Highway BB to the Rocheport Bridge from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
Nicole Samer, Senior Construction Inspector with the Missouri Department of Transportation says, "that work will consist of removing existing dirt and replacing it with agreed based for the new lanes."
MoDot doesn't anticipate the nightly closure to cause many delays as traffic volumes are lower at night.
Work on the bridge began in October of 2021 and Samer says crews have made significant progress.
"The first structure all girders are in place, now we are working on the deck of the bridge, two sections which is over the scower hole and over land those sections are complete so now the last unit is over the actual river and that's what we are working on right now." Samer said.
The Missouri Department of Transportation said in its monthly update on YouTube that crews have benefited from having a mild winter which has allowed them to make progress on the bridge.
Although the winter has been mild, Samer says Missouri River conditions have presented a challenge.
"Water levels have been extremely low, the scower hole which is on the other side of the river is at a point that hasn't been seen in a very long time." Samer says.
The lower water levels has made it hard for crews to move equipment and materials to where they need to be.
Over the next several weeks, work will take place on the east end of the bridge.
The westbound part of the bridge is expected to be open by this summer, then demolition on the existing part of the eastbound side of the bridge will begin.
MoDOT is encouraging drivers to give themselves additional time and follow all traffic signs.
The project to replace the bridge is expected to cost about $218 million and be finished by the end of 2024.
