The Missouri Department of Transportation will begin shifting southbound I-55 traffic at 8 p.m. today, Sept. 19, onto newly constructed pavement starting near McNutt Street in Herculaneum, the department announced Sept. 18 in a written statement.
Also starting at 8 p.m. today, MoDOT will close: one southbound I-55 lane starting near McNutt Street; the southbound I-55 exit and entrance ramps at Hwy. A in Festus; the southbound I-55 exit to Hwy. 67. The southbound ramps at Hwy. A and Hwy. 67 will reopen by 5 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, the statement said.
Southbound I-55 traffic will be fully switched onto the new pavement by 7 a.m. Sept. 22, the statement said.
The statement additionally said that by early October, northbound I-55 traffic will move onto the median pavement to allow for demolition of the northbound I-55 bridges over Hwy. 67, and Third Street and Central Avenue in Festus.
All work is weather permitting.
The purpose of the overall project is to address traffic and safety concerns along the I-55 corridor and account for future development and growth patterns in the region, according to the MoDOT website.
The new median lanes and demolition of the old pavement and bridge are part of an estimated $246 million I-55 Corridor Improvements project that runs from just north of Pevely south to just south of Festus.
For additional information about current and upcoming detours and project status, visit the I-55 Corridor Improvement project at modot.org.
For traffic and travel information, visit MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org/map/.