MoDOT - Missouri Department of Transportation

07/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2026 13:01

Progress Update for Route 66 Improvement Project for Week of June 29

Joplin - A project to make pavement, sidewalk, traffic and safety improvements along Missouri Route 66 (7th Street) in Joplin is underway. Here is an update of the work scheduled for the week of June 29.

Work scheduled:

  • Installing new sidewalk and curb between Range Line Road (Loop 49) and Ozark Avenue
  • Preparing for new pavement between Ozark Avenue and railroad tracks to the east
  • Preparing for installation of new storm water sewer on north side of Route 66 (7th Street) between Florida Avenue and Ozark Avenue
  • Installation of new manhole and pipe connections on south side of Route 66 at St. Louis Avenue as part of City of Joplin's sanitary sewer relocation
  • Liberty Electric working on relocation of utilities between St. Louis Avenue and Ozark Avenue
  • Missouri American Water working on utility relocation between Florida Avenue and Patterson Avenue
  • Spire continuing utility relocation at Main Street
  • AT&T doing utility relocation work at southwest corner of Florida Avenue. Crews also working between Main Street and Joplin Avenue, and between Pearl Avenue and Wall Avenue
  • Bluebird Fiber boring new conduit between St. Louis Avenue and Murphy Boulevard
  • Lumen Fiber relocating utilities at Florida Avenue
  • Allo Fiber doing utility relocation at various crossings west of Main Street
  • Sparklight Internet relocating lines to new Liberty poles as they are installed

Traffic Impacts:

  • All lanes of Route 66 (7th Street) CLOSED between Florida Avenue and Highland Avenue during nighttime hours (8 p.m., Monday, July 6 through 6 a.m., Tuesday, July 7) for stormwater work
    • Includes closing turn lanes on north- and southbound Range Line Road to westbound Route 66 (7th Street)
  • After overnight closure, at least one lane of Route 66 (7th Street) OPEN in both directions
  • Access to all business will be maintained at all times
  • Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone
  • No signed detours
  • Drivers should find alternate routes around the work zone
  • Check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule.

Project Details:

The project will make improvements along the Route 66 (7th Street) corridor in Joplin between Jasper County Route P (Schifferdecker Avenue) and Loop 49 (Range Line Road).

As part of this project, the contractor will rebuild the pavement, bring sidewalks up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and upgrade and replace several traffic signals along the corridor.

This contract also includes a project to rehabilitate the Oak Street bridge over I-49 in Carthage. That project is likely to start in 2027.

Project Information:

  • Prime Contractor: D&E Plumbing & Heating LLC, Nixa
  • Construction Cost: $61.6 million
  • Contract Completion Date: December 1, 2028

For more information, call MoDOT in Springfield at 417-895-7600 or visit www.modot.org/southwest

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MoDOT - Missouri Department of Transportation published this content on July 01, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 01, 2026 at 19:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]