By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri transportation officials have rescheduled the closing of Interstate 29 between Faucett and Dearborn south of St. Joseph, due to inclement weather.
The Missouri Department of Transportation had planned to close I-29 between Faucett and Dearborn for 24 hours beginning Friday evening at 10pm while crews demolished the Route 116 overpass. That has been rescheduled for next weekend, January 31st and February 1st.
MoDOT is replacing the Route 116 overpass and closed the bridge to all traffic this morning. The overpass replacement is expected to be completed in May.
MoDOT says both lanes of I-29 between Faucett and Dearborn will be closed at 10pm Friday, January 31st, until 10pm Saturday, February 1st. Traffic will be detoured along Routes H/Z, 371 and DD. Motorists must follow the signed detour or find an alternate route.
There will be several stages to the lane closures and a full closure of I-29 in order to remove the overpass:
Monday, Jan. 27th
From 5:30am to noon:
Close the left lane (passing lane, both northbound and southbound, at the bridge for the removal of the guardrail.
Friday, Jan. 31st
At 5pm
Close the right, inside lane (driving lane, both northbound and southbound, at the bridge for the removal of the guardrail.
At 10pm
Close both lanes of northbound I-29 at Route H/Z (Platte County, Exit 30 at Dearborn). Traffic will be detoured at Route H/Z.
Close both lanes of southbound I-29 at Route DD (Buchanan County, Exit 35 at Faucett). Traffic will be detoured at Route DD.
Saturday, Feb. 1st
At 10pm
Open I-29 to one-lane traffic between Faucett and Dearborn.
Sunday, Feb. 2nd
At 5pm
Open all lanes of I-29.
MoDOT says the closing of I-29 along the nearly 10-mile stretch will have extreme impacts on traffic. MoDOT says it and the contractor, Clarkson Construction, will work to make traffic during the closure as safe and efficient as possible, drivers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead. Drivers might even consider an alternate route such as U.S. Route 36 to I-35 during the planned 24-hour closure. Heavy congestion and delays along the detour routes will be significant. Expect lengthy slowdowns in the area.