Weather permitting, construction is scheduled to begin the week of May 19 on a bridge replacement and interchange improvement project, located at the Routes A/B and Interstate 70 interchange, near Pendleton in Warren County. 

This improvement project will replace the existing bridge over I-70, modify the interchange layout to enhance mobility and make accommodations for the I-70 expansion project. 

Over the course of the project, major improvement will include:

• A corridor realignment with the new bridge to be constructed east of the existing location. 
• A new 56-foot wide bridge consisting of 12-foot driving lanes, a 12-foot left turn lane and 10-foot wide shoulders. 
• A southbound Route B right turn lane to West Veterans Memorial Parkway. 
• A northbound Route B right turn lane to the eastbound I-70 on-ramp. 
• Interchange improvements to accommodate the proposed I-70 template with the addition of a third lane and improved bridge clearance and span lengths. 

During this initial phase of construction, all work will occur off the roadway with no impacts to traffic at this time. Stage 1 work will include:

• Construction of the new Routes A/B bridge will begin. 
• Partial shoulder closures along I-70 for bridge construction. 
• Construct new segments of Route A, Route B and West Veterans Memorial Parkway. 

As Stage 1 progresses, I-70 will be reduced to one lane beginning May 28 between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. while a barrier wall is installed for construction on the bridge supports in the median. 

“In the coming months, the interchange will become an active work zone and require various segments to close for roadway construction. We would like to remind drivers to please slow down, obey all signs and eliminate distractions while driving. The safety of the traveling public and our workers is our top priority,” said Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer Jeff Niemeyer. 

Signs and message boards will be in place to alert motorists, as schedule changes occur. MoDOT will alert the public about the project through signs, news releases and social media. As the project moves forward, additional information will be available on the project website at www.modot.org/projects/route-a-and-route-b-bridge-replacement-over-interstate-70-warren. 

The $13.7 million contract was awarded earlier this year to Emery Sapp & Sons Inc of Columbia.