The St. Louis community is advised to prepare for some disruptions this week as MoDOT announces significant traffic shifts near the I-270 and I-64 interchange. Starting Thursday, after the evening rush at 8 p.m., southbound lanes on I-270 are set to be reduced with up to three right lanes closing to facilitate the transfer of traffic onto new ramps for those heading to I-64. According to MoDOT, this will also necessitate the closure of ramps leading to both directions of I-64. If you're caught in the mix, a detour via Manchester Road, with a brief jaunt north on I-270, lets you hop onto east- or westbound I-64.

These changes are expected to stretch only until early the following morning. By 5 a.m. on Friday, March 14, lanes and ramps scheduled for closure should once again be open to the public. However, it's important to note some extended work happening on Conway. Starting 7 p.m. the same Friday and stretching over the weekend until 5 a.m. Monday, March 17, Conway under I-270 will be fully closed. Crews are tasked to remove part of the I-270 bridge above, and this job can't happen without a temporary cut-off to the regular flow of life below.

But not all routes are blocked. Access to Mercy Hospital will remain available with a bit of a detour via Ballas Road to Conway for those coming from the east of I-270, and the I-64 north outer road allows anyone to approach parts of Conway positioned west of the interstate. MoDOT assures that there will be no additional disruptions to I-270 traffic during the bridge demolition process.

While MoDOT aims to keep travel hindrances to the minimum, the agency stresses the importance of drivers planning ahead. Commuters might want to add some buffer time to their schedules or consider different routes entirely.