Missouri Department of Transportation officials have begun putting out weekly updates on the Lafayette Street interchange project.
The project includes building a new interchange at U.S. 50 and Lafayette; adding a lane in each direction on the Whitton Expressway from Monroe Street to Lafayette and from Lafayette to Clark Avenue; and rehabilitating, replacing or constructing six bridges along the corridor.
The six bridges include:
• The replacement of the Chestnut Street bridge over 50, the Jackson Street bridge over 50 and the 50 bridge over Lafayette.
• The rehabilitation of the Clark bridge over 50.
• Two new bridges, as part of the ramps on the new interchange at 50 and Lafayette.
Emery Sapp and Sons of Columbia is the contractor on the project, which is expected to be done by summer 2016, at a cost of $20.3 million.
Work on the project this coming week includes Jackson Street, closed Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., between East Elm Street and East Miller Street for the relocation of utility lines.
Also Monday, Emery Sapp and Sons will begin soil stabilization on the future ramp area between 50/63 and East Miller.
The sewer relocation on the east and west sides of the Chestnut Street bridge will continue and should not interfere with traffic.
The east and west sidewalks along Lafayette from East Dunklin Street to East Miller Street have been closed due to construction, and a temporary detour has been laid out on the greenway trail. For a map of the sidewalk detour, visit the Lafayette Street Interchange Project website at modot.org/central/major_projects/LafayetteInterchange.htm.