Route 66 Bridge Over I-44 in Jasper County to CLOSE Week of July 17

Jasper County – Contractor crews are set to CLOSE the eastbound Missouri Route 66/Loop 44 bridge over I-44 east of Joplin for up to 80 days beginning the week of July 17 to rehabilitate the bridge, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

Crews will repair the existing bridge deck and overlay it with a new driving surface. In addition, the contractor will add new guardrail at the ends of the bridge as well as new permanent striping.

This bridge was built in 1960 and is in a deteriorating condition. Approximately 1,700 vehicles cross the bridge daily.

Traffic Impacts:

• Eastbound Route 66/Loop 44 will be CLOSED over I-44 for up to 80 days
• Drivers will have access to driveways and entrances on the west end of the bridge, but will not be able to drive through the work zone
• No signed detour
• 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.

More information about this project can be found on the project website – I-44 Corridor Bridge Bundle.

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