MoDOT announces future road projects

Construction affects Woodlawn, Highway 32, Chester Bridge, I-55 in Ste. Gen County

SARAH HAAS, shaas@dailyjournalonline.com

The Southeast District of the Missouri Department of Transportation is gearing up for plenty of work in the region in the coming weeks. I-55 in Ste. Genevieve County, Woodlawn Drive and Highway 32 in Farmington will be affected, and work was slated to begin last week on the Chester Bridge that spans the Mississippi River at Perryville.

MoDOT crews travel and maintain 33,808 miles of roads and 10,424 bridges, making it one of the largest for any state in the nation. (MoDOT)

Northbound I-55

Beginning Monday, northbound Interstate 55 in Ste. Genevieve County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge repairs.

This section of road is located from mile marker 139.6 to mile marker 143.

Weather permitting, work will start Monday and finish Thursday, with active work zones from 6 a.m. To 4:30 p.m. Daily.

Woodlawn Drive

In early October, Woodlawn Drive in St. Francois County will have contractor crews working on the shoulder to install roadside lighting.

This section of road is located from U.S. 67 to Maple Street in Farmington.

If the weather cooperates, work will take place Monday, Oct. 2, and Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily.

Highway 32

This winding road in St. Francois County will have contractor crews working on the shoulder to install roadside lighting.

This section of road is located from U.S. 67 to North Potosi Street in Farmington.

Weather permitting, work will take place Wednesday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 6, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

All work zones will be marked with signs. Drivers are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.

Chester Bridge

Missouri Department of Transportation contractor crews will begin construction work on the Don Welge Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River this week. The design-build project will build a new bridge that spans the Mississippi River, connecting the cities of Perryville and Chester, Illinois, via Missouri State Highway 51/IL Highway 150.

In March 2023, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission announced the selection of The Ames Team as the design-build contractor to replace the current structure. Since that time, project staff have been working with the contractor and local entities to obtain all necessary permits.

During the past month, crews have also been mobilizing equipment and construction materials at the work site.

As work gets underway, crews will be excavating the Mississippi riverbank on the Missouri side of the river. Work will include building an embankment for the new road, fill, utility work, and construction of a temporary access road over the levee.

Work will be ongoing throughout the project and motorists are asked to use extreme caution traveling through the area. Large trucks and equipment will be used and will need to access with worksite. No major impacts to traffic are anticipated at this time. Travelers should also expect to see a variety of utility work being conducted on both sides of the river.

The project has a completion date of December 2026.

Additional details about the Chester Bridge are available at www.modot.org/chesterbridge.