Heads up, Putnam County drivers: your commute is about to get a little more complicated next week. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced a series of culvert replacements that will shut down segments of U.S. Route 136, and that means detours are on the horizon. The road closures are scheduled to take place daily from Monday, April 21, through Friday, April 25, between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to MoDOT's advisory.
This maintenance effort is focused on the stretch of Route 136 between north Route 139 and Route U, and while the work zones aren't set in stone, these closures are not a drill, they're real and they're going to affect traffic. So plan ahead, or you might find yourself on a scenic tour of the surrounding county roads. During these times, the road will be completely inaccessible to through traffic, necessitating the use of alternative routes as suggested by the transportation authorities.
While the convenience of a straight shot down Route 136 might be missed by many, MoDOT has emphasized the necessity of the work for the continued safety and infrastructure integrity of the road. All the planned work is, of course, contingent on the weather behaving itself; adverse conditions could mean a shift in schedule. "All work is weather-permitting, and schedules are subject to change," warns the MoDOT in its public notice.
It's more than just road closures; it's a call to mindfulness for drivers navigating the areas affected by maintenance—the crew at MoDOT doesn’t take safety lightly. "MoDOT asks drivers to work with us by always buckling up, keeping your phone down, slowing down and moving over in work zones," they've stated, and it's a good reminder that the inconvenience of a detour pales in comparison to the dangers faced without these precautions.
