Interstate 44 traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction in two locations between Lebanon and St. Robert for road resurfacing and bridge reconstruction beginning Monday, April 4, and lasting into late May, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
In addition, several ramps onto and off of I-44 in the St. Robert-Waynesville area will be closed at various times during the project.
Drivers can expect traffic slowdowns on I-44 in the work zones and on other roads near I-44, especially in the St. Robert-Waynesville area.
Morning and afternoon rush hours are expected to be more congested than normal in the St. Robert-Waynesville area.
The project involves resurfacing the westbound lanes of I-44 between Mile Markers 162 to 153 at St. Robert and rehabilitating the I-44 westbound bridge over the Gasconade River at Mile Marker 143 east of Lebanon.
At both locations, westbound I-44 traffic will be switched onto the eastbound side, with one lane of traffic open in each direction (head-to-head).
Between late April and late May, the resurfacing and bridge work will be going on at the same time. That means for about a month traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction (head-to-head) in two locations within 10 miles of one another.
Traffic Slowdowns
Daily commuters are urged to use alternate routes and add travel time to their trips.
With various ramp closings needed to reduce congestion on I-44 when traffic is head-to-head, drivers on I-44 heading toward businesses near the interstate may have to use different exits than they normally would use.
Electronic message boards along I-44 will alert drivers to traffic problems that may occur in the work zones.
Information about the I-44 project can be found on MoDOT’s web sites: www.modot.org/south central/i-44-construction.htm and www.modot.org/Springfield.
MoDOT will operate motorist assist trucks to help drivers who become stranded in the work zones. The MoDOT motorist assist trucks also will be able to respond quickly to help the Highway Patrol clear crashes.
The Project and Traffic Impacts
The resurfacing work on westbound I-44 at St. Robert-Waynesville and the westbound I-44/Gasconade River bridge work near Lebanon will be done in two stages:
Stage 1 — Resurface westbound I-44, Mile Markers 162-158
* Starts Monday, April 4
* Completed in up to 20 days
* Two-way traffic in eastbound lanes (four miles long)
* Ramps closed:
– Mile Marker 163: Eastbound off-ramp closed 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays
– Mile Marker 161: Westbound off-ramp, Westbound on-ramp and Eastbound on-ramp closed ’round the
– Mile Marker 159: Westbound off-ramp and Westbound on-ramp closed ’round the clock
– Mile Marker 156: Eastbound on-ramp closed 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.
Stage 2 — Resurface westbound I-44, Mile Markers 158-153
* Starts week of April 25 (or about 5 days after Phase 1 is complete)
* Completed by May 23
* Two-way traffic in eastbound lanes (five miles long)
* Ramps closed:
– Mile Marker 156: Westbound off-ramp, Westbound on-ramp and Eastbound on-ramp closed ’round the clock
– Mile Marker 153: Eastbound on-ramp closed ’round the clock
Also Stage 2 — Rehabilitate westbound I-44 bridge over Gasconade River, Mile Marker 143
* Starts week of April 25 (or about 5 days after Phase 1 is complete)
* Completed by May 23
* Two-way traffic in eastbound lanes (one mile long)
Alternate I-44
An Alternate I-44 route that would add 28 miles to the trip is marked in case a major traffic tie-up requires I-44 traffic to be diverted completely away from I-44 in the Lebanon and St. Robert-Waynesville areas.
If necessary:
* Eastbound I-44 traffic will be diverted onto Route 360 at Mile Marker 69 west of Springfield and sent through Springfield on U.S. 60 to Cabool and then north on U.S. 65 back to I-44 at Mile Marker 186 in Rolla.
* Westbound I-44 traffic will be diverted onto U.S. 63 at Mile Marker 186 in Rolla and sent south to Cabool, then west on U.S. 60 through Springfield and onto Route 360 back to I-44 at Mile Marker 69 west of Springfield.
The prime contractor on the I-44 project is Emery Sapp and Sons of Columbia, doing the work for a low-bid amount of $11.08 million.
