Renovations to a bridge near Stockton may inconvenience some travelers and businesses around Stockton Lake for the several months.
The $9.9 million project will force motorists who typically used the Route 215 bridge over the lake to take a detour that will add roughly six miles to their commute.
That is according to Missouri Department of Transportation’s resident engineer, Shannon Kellner, who said the materials that the bridge was composed of were getting worn down and becoming a safety hazard.
“We want to get out ahead of that and make necessary repairs and replace it before it gets to the point where we can’t do that.” Kellner explained.
Traffic will be detoured using Missouri Route 39 and Dade County Route Y. Some area store owners say because of the renovations and detour they will have to make changes as well.
Lisa Gardner owns the Sears Hometown Store in Stockton, and explained that the new construction work may impact delivery.
“We’ve really had to start thinking about our deliveries because we service that area out there so we take that bridge and so we’re going have to just really kind of figure out and really go over with customers as far as delivery and directions on how to get to their homes because it’s going to reroute us quite a ways,” Gardner said.
The project begins Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, and is not expected to be complete until late May 2016. Find a link to project and detour information here.