I-44 Project Bridge Rebuild to begin next week in Lawrence County

(From MODOT)

Work on the I-44 Project Bridge Rebuild is scheduled to start the week of June 10 when contractor crews CLOSE Railroad Drive (County Road 1147) and Lawrence County Route H between the ramps at I-44 in Mt. Vernon, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

Contractor crews will begin work to install a large archway/culvert under I-44 at Railroad Drive replacing the current bridges there and replace the I-44 bridges over Route H. In addition, the contractor will rehabilitate the I-44 bridges over the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (Mile Marker 43.2) and over Williams Creek (Mile Marker 48.4).

Railroad Drive (County Road 1147) Traffic Impacts:

-Railroad Drive CLOSED under I-44 for up to six (6) months

-Contractor crews installing a large archway/culvert under the interstate

-No signed detours, drivers are encouraged to find alternate routes

-Beginning mid-July, traffic on I-44 will be shifted to the inside lanes in each direction for up to two-and-a-half months. When that work is completed, traffic will shift to the outside lanes for another two-and-a-half months

-Route 39 to eastbound I-44 on-ramp CLOSED for approximately five (5) months during traffic shift
At the same time, contractor crews will rehabilitate the bridges over Williams Creek at Mile Marker 48.4

-I-44 speed limit will be reduced to 60 mph through the work zone

Route H Traffic Impacts

-Beginning the week of June 17 Route H CLOSED between the ramps under I-44 for up to 45 days. 

-All ramps remain open

-Contractor crews will lower Route H under the interstate to increase clearance to 16.5 feet in preparation to replace the bridge over Route H

-Route H drivers will be directed to a signed detour of:
Northbound Route H to westbound I-44 – east on I-44 to Missouri Route 39 then back on westbound I-44
Southbound Route H to eastbound I-44 – west on I-44 to Missouri Route 97 then back on eastbound I-44

-Beginning mid-July, traffic will be shifted head-to-head on I-44 so contractor crews can replace the bridge over Route H at Mile Marker 44.3 and rehabilitate the bridge over the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad at Mile Marker 43.2

-I-44 speed limit through the work zone will be reduced to 60 mph

-During 2019, contractor crews will work on the eastbound bridges over Route H and the MN&A railroad bridge. Work on the westbound bridges will begin in 2020

Weather and/or unforeseen delays will alter the work schedule.