Bridge work in Laclede County this fall could mean lane closures and traffic delays on I-44. MODOT plans to build a new I-44 Outer Road bridge over the Gasconade River west of Hazelgreen. Work will begin next week.
The project includes building a new bridge on a new alignment between the existing Gasconade River Bridge, along Historic Route 66, and the I-44 bridges across the river. The existing bridge was closed to traffic in December 2014 due to extensive deterioration, according to MODOT.
The initial work, it said, will also include blasting operations, which could slow traffic on I-44. Lane closures and traffic delays on I-44 are possible as the project progresses this fall. And construction crews plan to build a causeway to haul material from the west side of the Gasconade River to the east side. That will restrict navigational traffic on the river after Labor Day weekend.
The entire project is scheduled for completion in August 2019.