ST. LOUIS, MO (KPLR)—
MoDOT hopes drivers will avoid Interstate 70 through downtown this weekend. A 2-mile stretch of I-70 will be closed from Friday at 7:00p.m. and will reopen sometime before 5:00a.m. on Monday. The Interstate will be closed so the Madison Street Bridge can be demolished. The bridge will be closed for good beginning Wednesday morning.MoDOT has a pretty good idea what to expect. I-70 was closed 2 weekends ago when the Cass Bridge was demolished. Some drivers were confused as a detour took them through several city streets.
"We will have a detour sign but it goes through 2 1/2 miles of city streets with stop lights and stop signs so your going to be crawling if your taking 70 through downtown this weekend," said Greg Horn, MoDOT.
He's not encouraging drivers to stay away from downtown, just to stay of I-70 near downtown.
"If you're coming Downtown take 64, if you're coming from North County or South County take 270 around," advised Horn. He also recommended taking the Chain of Rocks Bridge or Interstate 55.
The Madison Street Bridge is expected to be rebuilt by the summer. The next project will be knocking down the St. Louis Avenue Bridge.
The reversible lanes will be closed until late April.
The work is all part of the Mississippi River Bridge Project expected to last 4 years.
