The Missouri Department of Transportation announced the I-55 northbound off-ramp at Exit 170, south of Festus, will temporarily close beginning Monday, Oct. 26.
The closure is part of Project Redbird, a multi-governmental effort to improve the transportation network around the former Festus Memorial Airport in Crystal City in preparation for the construction of the James Hardie manufacturing plant.
Jefferson County, which is leading Project Redbird, will pay $2,436,993.85 to Gershenson Construction Co., Inc. of Eureka to construct a roundabout where Hwy. 61, River Cement Road and the northbound I-55 Exit 170 ramp meet, with 100 percent of the cost covered by state funding.
Gershenson was the lowest of five bidders for the project, according to Public Works documents.
The project includes new concrete and asphalt pavement, striping and signage.
Lane Harness, the county’s project manager for Project Redbird, said the off-ramp will remain closed until spring 2027, depending on the weather.
“With how weather-dependent construction is, we do not have an exact date,” Harness said. “In order to build the improvements, portions of the Hwy. 61 and I-55 northbound ramps will be fully removed and rebuilt. We are able to keep Hwy. 61 open with the phasing but cannot keep the ramp areas open due to the limits of the physical construction of the improvements and for the safety of the workers.”
The roundabout is expected to be completed in September 2027.
MoDOT stated that message boards will be in place to notify drivers of the closure and any detour information.
“Motorists should expect delays and allow extra travel time while work is underway,” a written statement from MoDOT said.