Commuters take note: The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced an upcoming closure that's going to impact anyone who regularly uses Route 37 in Jasper County. Starting March 17, bridge repair work will shut down the key connection point over Spring River, south of Avilla, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays through April 3, according to information obtained from MoDOT's website.
This daytime closure is part of essential maintenance, with MoDOT crews set to "repair bridge joint," which mandates the bridge's complete inaccessibility during the specified hours. Those who depend on Route 37 will need to quickly adapt, as all lanes on either end of the bridge are scheduled to completely close. Nighttime and weekend travelers can breathe a bit easier, as the route will remain open during those times.
The specifics are plain: no vehicles will be able to cross the bridge during work hours. Properties at the ends of the work zone will stay reachable, but there won't be a convenient detour provided by MoDOT. Travelers are left to their own devices to sort out the best alternate paths.
An evident lack of a signed detour will probably to cause some headaches as drivers will need to intuit alternate routes, which could lead to increased traffic on secondary roads. MoDOT's advisory suggests that those affected should start planning their alternate routes sooner rather than later, to avoid getting caught unprepared when the closure kicks in.
Stay tuned to local traffic updates, and think ahead to rearrange travel plans during this nearly three-week period of daytime disruptions. Keep an eye on MoDOT announcements for potential changes to the repair schedule or for advice on managing the closure's impact on your commute.
