Weekend Lane Closures Planned On I-70 Bridge in Missouri

ST LOUIS – The westbound I-70 Blanchette Missouri River Bridge will close by 5 a.m. Monday, November 5, and I-70 will be reduced from 10 lanes total to 6 lanes (3 for each direction) until Fall 2013.  MoDOT will be performing $63 million in major rehabilitation to the 54 year old westbound bridge.

To get both directions of I-70 traffic moved onto the eastbound I-70 bridge, construction crews will be working around the clock this weekend, and there will be multiple lane closures.  In general, only 2 lanes will be open on I-70 this weekend, and there will be a few hours on Sunday when the westbound exits to Earth City Expressway and the westbound exits to Fifth Street will be closed.  The exact timing on Sunday is not known as it is dependent on the progress of the work over the weekend.

Here are the details for this weekend.

Friday, November 2:

•·         Eastbound I-70, 2 lanes closed at noon from Route 94 to the St Louis County end of bridge

•·         Ramp from northbound Fifth Street to eastbound I-70 closes at noon 
(this is a permanent closure until Fall 2013)

•·         Westbound I-70, 1 lane closed at 8 p.m. from Earth City Expressway to Fifth Street

•·         Eastbound I-70 will be reduced again at 10 p.m. so only 2 lanes are open until 5 a.m. Monday

Saturday, November 3:

•·         Westbound I-70 reduced so only 2 lanes are open until 5 a.m. Monday

Sunday, November 4:

•·         Westbound ramps at Earth City and at Fifth Street will be closed for several hours.  The exact time for these ramp closures is not known.  Motorists should be prepared for anytime on Sunday that the exits could be closed.  Motorists will have to exit westbound at Route 94/First Capitol to either take the outer road back to Fifth Street or take the eastbound ramp to I-70 to get back to Earth City.

  MoDOT advises motorists to use Route 370 or Route 364 instead of I-70 this weekend.  Significant delays are expected with only two lanes open in each direction.  Earth City Expressway and downtown St. Charles are accessible from either Route 370 or Route 364.  For more information on the project, visit www.modot.org/blanchettebridge.