JEFFERSON CITY – As Memorial Day approaches and Missourians ramp up their summer travels, the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead, use good judgment and be patient, as there are more work zones than ever across the state this construction season. Distracted driving, impaired driving, excessive speeds, and not wearing seat belts are just a few of the concerns that may accompany the increased Memorial Day weekend traffic. In Missouri, 10 people were killed and 83 were seriously injured in crashes over the Memorial Day holiday last year. MoDOT officials would like that number to be zero for the 2025 holiday.
“We’re working to deliver more improvements to the state’s transportation system than ever, and we need everyone’s help to keep our highway workers – and each of us who use the roads– safe in that effort,” said State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson. “Your cooperation and decisions behind the wheel could be the reason a family gets home safely – including your own. Buckle up, put your phone down, slow down, and drive sober this summer, especially in work zones.”
Drivers can stay informed of road construction, lane closures, and delays on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org. Some major work zones with permanent lane closures will remain in place for the holiday weekend. These are some of the major projects throughout the state for which drivers should be on the lookout this summer:
Northwest area: Interstate 29: Atchison County – I-29 is narrowed to one lane in each direction for repairs to the north and southbound Mill Creek bridges between Mound City and Corning. https://www.modot.org/node/67112
Northeast area: I-72/U.S. 36: Marion County – Both east and westbound I-72/U.S. 36 are narrowed to one lane with a 12’ width restriction from Missouri Route 79 to Illinois 106 for bridge rehabilitation work on the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River in Hannibal. A full closure begins May 30 for up to 30 days. https://www.modot.org/node/67539
Kansas City area: I-435 Bridge Rehabilitation: Clay County – The left lane of northbound and southbound I-435 is closed from Parvin Rd. to 48th St. for bridge rehabilitation until Dec. 1 (approximately). A new traffic configuration is in place on I-435. https://www.modot.org/node/67034.
Central area: Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City: I-70 eastbound between mile markers 137 and 144 (Route J to Route M) is shifted with narrow lanes, and the ramps to and from Route J at Exit 137 are closed. U.S. Route 63 south of I-70 in Columbia is narrowed to one lane each direction between the Broadway overpass and the Conley Road underpass. Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City | Missouri Department of Transportation
Rehabilitation of Multiples Bridges in Jefferson City: U.S. Route 54 is narrowed to one lane, each direction, in Jefferson City from just south of Missouri Boulevard to just south of Stadium Boulevard for bridge rehabilitation work. U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 54 Bridge Rehabilitations in Cole County | Missouri Department of Transportation
St. Louis area: I-64: St. Charles County – Work began in mid-March to add a third lane on I-64 between Route K and the I-70/I-64 interchange. This work is part of the Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville project. Motorists traveling in both directions of I-64 will notice crews working behind barrier wall on the median between Route K and Lake Saint Louis Boulevard this summer. I-64 lanes will be narrowed slightly, and the speed limit will be reduced in this work zone. https://www.modot.org/projects/improvei70/warrentonwentzville. Additionally, the westbound I-64 Boone Bridge over the Missouri River is undergoing routine major maintenance. Median crossovers are on both sides of the Missouri River, and two westbound I-64 lanes are on the eastbound I-64 bridge, separated by barrier wall. The outside “auxiliary lanes” will be closed in each direction, but three eastbound and westbound lanes will remain open through this work, scheduled to be completed winter 2025. https://www.modot.org/projects/interstate-64-bridge-rehabilitation-st-charles-and-st-louis-counties.
Southwest area: I-44, Route 65: I-44 Corridor Upgrades are underway in Springfield between Kansas Expressway and U.S. Route 65, and Route 65 Widening is underway in Christian County; some narrowed lanes may be present in these work zones. I-44 Bridge Rehabilitation work in Joplin at Missouri Route 86/43 (Exit 6) has westbound I-44 traffic split with one lane (right) open and one lane (left) head-to-head in eastbound lanes. Both westbound and eastbound on-ramps are closed.
Southeast area: Route 74/Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, Cape Girardeau County: Route 74 will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as construction crews perform bridge maintenance. The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is located across the Mississippi River between Cape Girardeau, Missouri and East Cape Girardeau, Illinois. Work is underway and will continue through November 2025. https://www.modot.org/node/66388
