Traffic impacts to be expected in Lawrence County amid bridge construction

Lawrence County – Contractor crews are set to CLOSE the Missouri Route 96 bridge over Johnson Creek west of Halltown until mid-December beginning the week of August 15 to rehabilitate the bridge, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

Crews will demolish the existing bridge deck/driving surface and beams, leaving the piers and foundation in place to be re-used in the new structure. In addition, the contractor will add new barrier walls, guardrail at the ends of the bridge, an upgraded drainage system and new permanent striping.

The bridge also will be widened by three feet to a total of 30 feet to accommodate two 12-foot-wide lanes with three-foot wide shoulders.

This bridge was built in 1960, is in a deteriorating condition and sees approximately 4,200 vehicles daily.

Traffic Impacts:

• All lanes of Route 96 will be CLOSED over Johnson Creek until mid-December
• Drivers will have access to driveways and entrances on either end of the work zone, but will not be able to drive through the work zone.
• Drivers will be directed along a signed detour using I-44 and I-49
• Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone
• Drivers should consider alternate routes during the project
• Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or construction delays could alter the work schedule.

This work is part of a three-year project to improve 25 bridges within 15 miles of I-44 across the Southwest District. Of the 25 bridges in the project, known as the I-44 Corridor Bridge Bundle, seven (7) are mainline I-44 bridges, five (5) are I-44 overpass bridges and the remaining bridges are on adjacent routes over various features. Sixteen (16) bridges will be replaced and nine (9) bridges will receive major rehabilitation work.

All work in 2022 will be in Lawrence County, where crews will replace five (5) bridges and rehabilitate four (4) others.

Project Details:

• Prime Contractor – The ESS Team
  • Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. – Columbia
  • Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. – St. Louis
• Total Project Cost: $43.2 million
• Contract Completion Date: September 30, 2024

The ESS Team is a partnership of engineering and construction firms that will design and construct the project with oversight by MoDOT and the Federal Highway Administration.