Scheduled Closure of MO 47 for Bridge Replacement Over I-70 at Warrenton in Warren County

HANNIBAL - [March 27], Missouri Route 47 is scheduled to close as work begins on a bridge replacement project over Interstate 70 and interchange improvements at Warrenton (Exit 193) in Warren County. This work is included in the Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville project. Construction crews, in coordination with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will be closing MO 47 at the interchange to remove the existing bridge, making way for new bridge construction at the current location.

Weather permitting, beginning at 7:00 p.m., on March 27, 2026, I-70 traffic will be temporarily rerouted for up to 48 hours to allow for bridge removal. This work is weather-dependent and schedule changes may occur. Traffic will be diverted at the following locations:

• I-70 Traffic: Eastbound and westbound I-70 traffic will be temporarily reduced to one lane, with a 12-foot width restriction in place, and all traffic will be diverted up and over the interchange ramps, then back to I-70.
• MO 47 Access: Southbound MO 47 from the eastbound I-70 off-ramp will remain open at the ramp terminal.
• MO 47 Detour: No access to I-70. Drivers will need to utilize the outer roads to reroute to neighboring interchanges, located to the west at Route MM/Warrenton Boulevard (Exit 191) at Warrenton or to the east at Wildcat Drive (Exit 199) in Wright City.
• • North of I-70: utilize the North Service Road to detour
  • South of I-70: detour over the Veterans Memorial Parkway

Once the bridge removal is complete, I-70 traffic will return to its normal configuration, and Route 47 will regain access to all interchange ramps.

During bridge construction, the following traffic impacts will be in place throughout the Summer 2026:

• CLOSED: The MO 47 bridge will remain closed between the eastbound and westbound I-70 interchange ramps. There will be no north-south access across the interstate at this location.
• OPEN: All ramps at the interchange will remain open.
• DETOURS: A signed detour will be in place to reroute MO 47 traffic to neighboring interchanges, located to the west at Route MM/Warrenton Boulevard (Exit 191) at Warrenton or to the east at Wildcat Drive (Exit 199) in Wright City. While the bridge is closed and under construction, MO 47 traffic will detour as follows:
• • Northbound MO 47 traffic will exit to eastbound I-70 and travel to the Wildcat Drive Interchange in Wright City. At the Wildcat Drive interchange, motorists will encounter two left turn lanes with a barrier wall divider to separate the NB MO 47 detour from normal interchange traffic. Detouring traffic should use the far left turn lane, left of barrier wall, to make a U-turn over interchange bridge and back to westbound I-70. Motorists will return to the MO 47 interchange, exit at the off-ramp and continue northbound on MO 47.
  • Southbound MO 47 traffic will exit to westbound I-70 and travel to the Route MM/Warrenton Boulevard interchange. At this interchange, traffic will follow the detour, utilizing the north roundabout, travel across the bridge to the south roundabout and exit back to eastbound I-70. Motorist will travel eastbound on I-70 back to the MO 47 interchange, exit at the off-ramp and continue southbound on MO 47.
  • CAUTION: If you encounter traffic backups at either detour location, please DO NOT STOP on the interstate - continue on I-70 to the next interchange to safely detour.
  • Traffic alerts and detour messaging will be communicated using changeable message boards and signs.

To minimize impacts on surrounding businesses, the new bridge will be built in the same location as the existing bridge. This is necessary due to the requirements of the removal process based on the current bridge design.

Signs and message boards will be in place to alert motorists, as schedule changes occur. MoDOT will alert the public about the project through signs, news releases and social media. As the project moves forward, additional information will be available on the project website at www.modot.org/projects/improvei70/warrentonwentzville

We encourage you to view the bridge replacement video (Improve I-70 - MO 47 Bridge Replacement Video) to learn more about traffic impacts during this phase.

Missouri's FY2024 budget, approved through the state legislative process and signed into law by the governor, provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue to build a third lane of I-70 across the state. The program will plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and add a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville.

For more information on the Improve I-70 Program and to sign up for program e-mails, visit http://www.modot.org/improvei70.