The section of Hwy. H between Maness Road and Dodson Lane west of De Soto has been closed due to a box culvert collapse, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced today (Jan. 18).
Signs will direct motorists to detours around the closure, which is near Hwy. 21, MoDOT reported.
The agency received calls Monday (Jan. 17) about a pothole that had developed along that section of the highway, and after investigating found that the culvert had collapsed and that part of the road needed to be closed, said Stephen O’Connor, MoDOT area engineer.
“The safety of motorists is a priority and at this point the most effective safety method is to totally close the roadway,” he said.
O’Connor said the culvert was already under contract to be replaced in late spring, but the project is being expedited. However, it is not yet known how long the closure will last.