Festus Police are urging motorists to pay close attention while driving on southbound I-55 near the Hwy. A exit where a Missouri Department of Transportation construction project recently shifted lanes and a number of accidents have occurred, Capt. Lewis Pippin said.
On Feb. 28, MoDOT shifted southbound I-55 traffic in the Festus area to two newly constructed lanes in the median area from the Quarry Road bridge just north of Festus to just south of the I-55 and Hwy. 67 interchange south of Festus. The switch was made to allow for the removal of pavement along that stretch and to demolish the bridges over Central Avenue, Third Street and Hwy. 67.
“They started the lane switch Feb. 28, but it wasn’t fully switched until March 3,” Pippin said. “There have been five accidents reported since the switch, with the last one March 8.
“Of the five vehicle accidents, one resulted in an injury where someone needed to be transported (for medical care). Six vehicles had to be towed due to disabling damage. The accidents involved 14 total vehicles.”
He said that during the period from Feb. 28 through March 11 last year, no accidents were reported along that same stretch of road.
Pippin highly advises drivers to take care as they go through that stretch of road.
“We hope for (traffic safety in the area) to improve as people learn to navigate the construction zone,” he said. “Most of the accidents happen at the lane shift. We hope they learn to pick a lane.
“Just do your best to stay in your lane. Leave proper space. Go through slowly and safely.”
When MoDOT announced that the lane shift was coming, project director Justin Wolf warned that a concrete barrier would separate the two new lanes, so motorists who want to exit I-55 at Hwy. A in Festus or Hwy. 67 south of Festus must stay in the right-most new lane at the beginning of the 3-mile stretch or they can’t exit the interstate. Motorists are also unable to switch lanes through the new stretch due to the concrete barrier between the lanes.
The improvements are part of the I-55 Corridor Upgrades project in Jefferson County that includes widening an 8-mile stretch of I-55 from just north of Hwy. Z near Pevely to the Hwy. 67 exit south of Festus. The anticipated completion date is December 2026.
Here is a closer look at the ongoing changes to southbound I-55 in the Festus area.