SCHEDULE CHANGE: Phelps County Route J nearing completion; work on Route 72 continues

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A project to rehabilitate six bridges over Interstate 44 in Phelps & Pulaski counties is in the home stretch with three bridges complete, two begin rehabilitated now, and the final bridge scheduled to begin.

Crews continue working toward reopening Phelps County Route J over I-44 (Exit 169). While crews previously hoped to open the bridge as early as tomorrow, Aug. 14, contractors working with the Missouri Department of Transportation now are targeting Friday, Aug. 21, to open the bridge to all traffic.

Route 72 (Kingshighway) over I-44 in Rolla (Exit 184) remains under construction. Crews rehabilitating the bridge deck uncovered more extensive deterioration than expected, adding additional time to the first phase of work. Crews have now moved to the next and final phase.

As with the previous phase, westbound Kingshighway will remain closed during the second half of the project, while the bridge remains open to eastbound traffic. If no further deterioration is found, the contractor plans to reopen the roadway to westbound traffic in mid-October, weather permitting.

Work on the final bridge in this project is the Phelps County Route E bridge in Rolla at Exit 185. Crews plan to begin removing the sidewalk adjacent to the northbound lanes the week of Aug. 24. Nighttime single-lane closures on Route E can be expected through early October. Flaggers will direct traffic nightly through the work zone.

Rehabilitation work is complete on three bridges over I-44 as part of this six-bridge project: Missouri Route 28 in St. Robert (Pulaski County), Phelps County Route D southwest of Doolittle, and Phelps County Road 8490 (Sugar Tree Road) also near Doolittle.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $3,948,366.99 contract for this multi-bridge project to Concrete Strategies, LLC. For more information, visit the websites for these projects. While there, sign up for project-specific email updates:

MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.

For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation-related matters, please visit our Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/ or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with us on social media:

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