I-55

Southbound Interstate 55 at Route M Improvements

Barnhart weigh scale to close
Missouri’s first virtual weigh scale on Route 67
Jefferson County’s first roundabout
New safer ramp onto Interstate 55 Southbound

Construction starts December 2009

I-55

Interstate 55 Expansion from Route M to Route Z

American Recovery and Revitalization Act (ARRA)
New bridges on Interstate 55 over Route M
Added lane in each direction of I-55
Soundwall study to be performed on Interstate 55 (Route M to Z)

Construction starts March 2010

I-55

Northbound Interstate 55 at Route M Improvements

New ramp from Route M to Northbound Interstate 55
New Interstate 55 weigh scale to open in Bloomsdale

Construction starts 2011

Public meeting flyer (1 page, 41.3kb)

To view animation of the completed interchange click here

To view the overall project (1 page, 2.03 mb)

Construction Update: June 23, 2010

Interstate 55 from Route M to Route Z

The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor, Millstone Bangert, Inc., will close one lane of both northbound and southbound I-55 between Route M and Route Z starting Wednesday, June 23 through Friday, July 2.

Closures will occur around the clock, except for the hours of 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on southbound I-55 and from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. for northbound I-55.

Northbound and Southbound Interstate 55 lanes between Route M and Route Z have reduced width of 11 feet, with concrete barrier present. Lanes are reduced and shifted to the shoulder (containing rumble strips) in order to construct the new northbound bridge over Route M and to construct an additional lane in each direction of I-55. The northbound I-55 exit to Route M (exit 185) is closed. This exit will remain closed for the duration of the project. Traffic wanting to exit northbound I-55 at Route M should use Route Z exit (exit 180) and follow the posted detour. In addition, Route M will be restricted to one lane in each direction at the I-55/Route M interchange. Daily lane closures in both directions of I-55 should be expected. All work will be completed weather permitting.

Metropolitan Boulevard

The contractor has constructed a temporary by-pass for northbound and southbound Metropolitan Boulevard for future construction of the roundabout. The contractor will be removing existing pavement this week Monday through Friday during daytime hours on the roundabout.

Route M

Route M is restricted to one 11 foot lane in each direction on Route M under Interstate 55. This restriction will remain in place until the end of 2010. Route M westbound now has a shared thru/ left lane (left to Metropolitan). MoDOT has adjusted the traffic signal timing to prevent vehicles from stopping underneath the Interstate 55 bridge on Route M. During morning and evening rush hour, there will be delays on Route M and Metropolitan Boulevard.

I-55

Southbound Interstate 55 at Route M Improvements

The Project Includes:

New southbound Interstate ramp from new roundabout on Metropolitan Blvd.

Closure of the southbound I-55 weigh scale and virtual weigh scale on Route 67.

Jefferson County’s first roundabout

Construction begins December 2009 through end of 2010. Construction work will address the congestion problems caused by the short, tight loop ramp at Route M and the slow moving trucks entering and exiting the weigh scale. The project construction cost is approximately $3 million and funded by a federal earmark.

I-55

To view the roundabout click here (1 page, 1.71 mb)

For more information:

To view information about the virtual weigh scale click here (1 page, 1.12 mb)

On December 7th, the Route M to southbound Interstate 55 ramp was closed and traffic detoured to US 61/67. Route Z and Metropolitan was temporarily changed to an all- way stop intersection. Traffic signals will be installed at this intersection to handle the additional traffic due to the ramp closure.

Southbound Interstate ramp from new roundabout on Metropolitan Blvd.

Construction Impacts and Schedule:

Project starts December 2009

Closure of the Route M to Interstate 55 Southbound loop ramp (December 2010- early 2011) . Traffic will be detoured to Highway US 61/67 to access Interstate 55 south at Route Z until the new ramp is complete.

Widening of the southbound Interstate 55 off-ramp at Route M. This ramp currently has a shared left and through lane at the intersection with Route M. The new widening will allow for separate left and through traffic lanes for the ramp. Improved signing on the ramp will help direct drivers and reduce lane confusion. The ramp will also be straightened removing the curve approaching Route M in 2010.

The Metropolitan Blvd approach to Route M will have dual right turn lanes -- one lane designated for access to the left turn lane to northbound Interstate 55, the other lane to head toward US 61/67. Overhead signing will designate the lane drivers are to use.

Construction of the roundabout. There will be no improvements made to Marriot Lane.

Lengthening of the right turn lane from Route M eastbound to Metropolitan Blvd.

March 2010 closure of the Barnhart scale house and construction of virtual weigh scale on Route 67.

Two weekend closures of Interstate 55 southbound ramp to US 61 southbound will be necessary for the installation of equipment for the virtual weigh scale. The first closure will be necessary to prepare the pavement for the new equipment. The second closure will be for the installation of the scale sensors for the weigh in motion feature of the virtual weigh scale. During the weekend closures of this ramp, traffic will be signed to exit Interstate 55 southbound at Route A and proceed down Route A to the US 61/67 connection to US 67 southbound.

The Barnhart weigh scale site will have access to Metropolitan only and will be converted to a commuter lot in 2011.

Barnhart weigh scale to close and Virtual Weigh Scale to open on Highway 67

The Southbound Interstate 55 weigh scale house at Barnhart will be closing in the Spring 2010. The new scale house will open in 2011 in Ste. Genevieve County. Missouri's first virtual weigh scale will open in March 2010 on Highway 67 near I-55.

The virtual weigh scale will feature sensors in the pavement that provide patrol officers with safety information such as truck weigh and license plate images. Officers will be able to inspect commercial vehicles at a site near Buck Creek.

Two weekend closures of Interstate 55 southbound ramp to US 61 southbound will be necessary for the installation of equipment for the virtual weigh scale. The first closure will be necessary to prepare the pavement for the new equipment. The second closure will be for the installation of the scale sensors for the weigh in motion feature of the virtual weigh scale. During the weekend closures of this ramp, traffic will be signed to exit Interstate 55 southbound at Route A and proceed down Route A to the US 61/67 connection to US 67 southbound.

To view information about the virtual weigh scale click here (1 page, 1.12 mb)

Jefferson County’s first roundabout

A roundabout in the area of Marriot Lane will be built on Metropolitan Blvd. This roundabout provides a safer way to access Interstate 55 as well as improvements to the traffic flow along Metropolitan.

To view the roundabout click here (1 page, 1.71 mb)

This roundabout will have access to Southbound Interstate 55, Marriot Lane, the commuter lot/ MoDOT maintenance building, and Metropolitan Boulevard. No improvements will be made to Marriot Lane. The southbound ramp to Interstate 55 in the new roundabout on Metropolitan will replace the loop ramp that is currently in place. Motorists will make yielding right turns around the roundabout to access all roads. The roundabout loop is designed to handle tractor trailers.

For more information about roundabouts in Missouri:

http://www.modot.mo.gov/central/major_projects/documents/233.3_DrivingtheRoundaboutWay.pdf

To view a video animation of driving a roundabout click here

http://www.modot.mo.gov/stlouis/major_projects/jeffersoncountyupdates.htm.

For more information contact:

Shirley Norris, Project Manager at 314-453-5032

Kristy Yates, Area Engineer at 314-565-5281

Interstate 55 Expansion from Route M to Route Z

The Project includes:

Widening of Interstate 55 to 3 lanes in each direction between Route M and Route Z

Resurface existing lanes in each direction between Route M and Route Z

Straightening of the Interstate 55 southbound exit to Route M- removing the curve approaching the signal at Route M.

Replace and widen Interstate 55 bridges over Route M and Glaize Creek

Install new high tension guard cable after lanes are widened in the median

To view the entire high tension guard cable pamplet click here (2 pages, 567 kb)

Increase shoulders from 6 feet wide to 10 feet wide

Construction begins in March 2010 through 2012. Construction work will address the congestion problem by widening the interstate to 3 lanes in each direction and will address the safety issues by adding features such as median shoulders, new high friction pavement, and high tension guard cable. The project construction cost is approximately $ 15-20 million and was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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Construction Schedule and Impacts:

Project to begin in March 2010.

Two lanes will be open in each direction of Interstate 55 during peak hours. Night time lane closures will be utilized for construction.

During the construction of the bridges over Route M and Glaize Creek, the lanes of traffic will be shifted, the speed reduced (70 mph to 50 mph) and the lane widths reduced to 11 foot lanes over Route M.

Northbound Interstate 55 exit to Route M will be closed during the bridge construction. (Spring 2010- early 2011) Traffic will be detoured to Route Z toHighway 61/67 to access Route M.

Southbound Interstate 55 exit to Route M will have temporary closures to connect the Interstate to the newly aligned ramp. The new ramp will be straighter approaching Route M.

Operation Protect will be operating along Interstate 55 in Jefferson County. This Missouri Highway Patrol program provides traffic and safety enforcement of work zones. Interstate 55 was selected to participate in this program due to the number of severe crashes that occur in this area.

Noise analysis to be performed

A noise analysis is required whenever MoDOT widens an existing roadway. MoDOT will use a federally approved traffic model to analyze the change in noise from the widened I-55 from Route M to Route Z. The model looks at a 20-year noise projection. Noise levels must be projected at greater than 66 decibels to require construction of noise abatement, which is typically a soundwall. For more information on MoDOT’s soundwall policy, please click on:

http://www.modot.mo.gov/stlouis/links/docs/sndwalls_304.pdf

http://www.modot.mo.gov/stlouis/major_projects/jeffersoncountyupdates.htm

For more information contact:

Shirley Norris, Project Manager at 314-453-5032

Kristy Yates, Area Engineer at 314-565-5281

Northbound Interstate 55 at Route M Improvements

The Project Includes

New ramp from Route M eastbound to northbound Interstate 55 and new ramp from northbound Interstate 55 to eastbound Route M
New Interstate 55 weigh scale to open in Bloomsdale

Construction begins in late 2011.Right of way will be purchased in late 2010 through early 2011. Construction work will address the congestion problems caused the signal at Route M and the northbound onramp to Interstate 55. The project construction cost is approximately $7 million and funded by Amendment 3 funds.

I-55