Heads up, St. Louis motorists: if you're planning on traveling northbound on Interstate 55 this weekend, you're in for a bit of a detour. MoDOT announced that a stretch of the highway will be closed off to allow for some serious concrete work – all in aid of a new bridge that's set to make your commute smoother in the long run.
Specifically, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, the section of I-55 north at the Carondelet/River City Boulevard exit is going to be effectively off limits. Detours are a necessary evil sometimes, and those looking to stick to their northbound route will need to quickly adapt and turn right on River City Boulevard, follow it to Broadway, and then hang a left back towards the interstate. This somewhat roundabout path will be your best bet until lanes reopen the following morning at 9 a.m., according to MoDOT's announcement.
The reason behind this inconvenience? Well, crews are looking to place concrete for what's being promised as a slick new driving surface on the bridge over Union Pacific Railroad. The stretch between River Des Peres and Loughborough is getting a facelift, and that means we've all got to take a little breather from our usual paths.
It's not just any construction job, either. This project hinges on the whims of the weather, and should the elements decide to turn, there might be some adjustments to the schedule. But, as of now, MoDOT is set to confidently move forward with the plan, aiming to keep at least two lanes open to ease into the end of the closure period. Prepare to take a small, albeit necessary detour for the promise of better, smoother roads ahead, as detailed by MoDOT.
