Update 4:00 p.m. Feb. 25:

Highway O in Warren County will be closed to outside traffic beginning Thursday night. Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer Erik Maninga said only local traffic will be allowed from Highway M to Highway 47, in order for road crews to make temporary repairs to numerous spots of severe pavement damage all along the roadway.

The partial road closure will last into next week while the repairs are done, Maninga said. In addition, a stretch of Highway O just south of Polston Lane will be completely closed to all traffic Friday for more extensive repairs.

"Our crews will be in there tomorrow putting rock in where the pavement is blown out," said Maninga. "What we're seeing is extreme deterioration of Route O caused by the warm weather, the frost coming out of the ground, and increased truck traffic on the road."

Maninga reiterated a warning issued earlier today, that motorcycles should avoid Highway O completely due to the poor condition of the pavement.

Original story:

Drivers are being asked to avoid traveling on Highway O in Warren County while state road crews repair severe pavement damage that has appeared in several locations. Marthasville Fire Protection District is asking non-local drivers to find a detour to reduce the chance of traffic accidents while work is being done.

Motorcycles should stay off Highway O entirely due to the unsafe driving conditions, first responders added. The repairs could take multiple days to complete.

According to the fire district, there are multiple places along the highway where southbound traffic has to cross over into the northbound driving lane to avoid damage or repair work. Reduced traffic would also give road crews safer working conditions.

Some local drivers have commented that they believe the recent freezing and thawing conditions, combined with heavy truck traffic, caused the large ruts and potholes to form on the highway.