Heads up, Neosho commuters: You're going to need to map out a different route on Thursday. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced that Business 60, also known as College Street, will be closed at the crossing near Smith Avenue. The culprit? Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad crews are set to perform essential crossing repairs.
The work's slated to start bright and early at 7 a.m. and wrap up by the end of your typical workday at 7 p.m., this is a full twelve hours where the crossing will be a no-go zone for vehicles, MoDOT specifies that although the thoroughfare itself will be off limits, local traffic can breathe a slight sigh of relief as they will still be able to reach driveways and businesses on either side of the tracks. Just don't expect to cross over — that part's strictly off the table for the duration.
For those driving through, detours are already set in stone. Motorist will be rerouted via Missouri Route 86 east to U.S. Route 60/59 and swinging back around to Business 60 (Neosho Boulevard). MoDOT suggests finding an alternative route to avoid the construction zone altogether if possible, and who could blame them? No one's idea of a good time involves detours and construction delays.
To help mitigate surprise and frustration, you'll spot signs and message boards peppered throughout the area, alerting drivers of the upcoming blockade long before they reach the point of no return volunteers are going to be handing out maps and guidance, just in case. If you're the sort who likes to plan ahead, MoDOT has your back with their Traveler Information Map, available online for all the detail-oriented pathfinders out there eager to scout out their travel game plan well in advance of the dreaded closure.
If you need that map or any additional info, it's all housed neatly on the MoDOT website.
