Districts Impacted
Project Timeline
This project is anticipated to be awarded in December 2021. It is a design - bid - build contract and will be awarded to the lowest bid from a qualified contractor.
Construction on this project begins in early 2022.
Depending on weather (and downtown activity), crews will close all lanes of I-44 (including the express lanes) over a weekend in early February to remove the bridge and ramp.
Once the bridge is removed, it will remain closed until about June 2023. Crews have to build the ramp from the express lanes (which is expected to take about six months) before they can start rebuilding the bridge.
Once construction starts on the ramp, crews will narrow and shift the two westbound lanes of I-44 heading south into the city of St. Louis. In addition, the express lanes into the city will be closed around the clock. The express lanes will remain closed until spring 2023.
Once the new express lane ramp is built, crews will start working on the Broadway bridge. There may be weekend or overnight interstate and express lane closures to set girders for the bridge in that time.
Once the bridge is completed, southbound Broadway over the interstate reopens. This is anticipated to happen in June 2023.
Once all the work is done, and the contractor has addressed all items, the project will be complete. This is anticipated to be sometime in summer 2023.
What is the situation?
The Missouri Department of Transportation needs to replace the bridge carrying southbound Broadway over Interstate 44 in the downtown city of St. Louis area. As a part of this project, the ramp bridge carrying the exit lane from the I-70 eastbound express lanes to Broadway will also have to be removed and replaced. Although the department has continually monitored and maintained the bridge to keep it safe and operational, the bridge and ramp have planned to be replaced for several years.
What is the current plan?
In 2022, MoDOT will replace the bridge across the interstate and the ramp from the express lanes. The project will require Broadway over the interstate and the express lanes into the city to be closed for most of the year. In addition, the remaining two lanes on westbound I-44 (heading south into the city) will be narrowed and shifted. There will be some weekend and nighttime lane closures of the interstate to remove the ramp and bridge, as well as to set girders during the project.
What will the impacts be?
There will be two narrowed and shifted lanes on southbound (westbound) I-44 heading into and through the downtown area. Since the express lanes will be closed through fall 2022, drivers can expect congestion, especially during peak morning and evening traffic times. Drivers heading to Illinois should consider using the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge instead of the MLK or the Eads Bridge. Drivers heading downtown may want to consider exiting at Tucker or at Broadway to head into downtown. Drivers heading through downtown to south city or I-55 may want to consider using the express lanes and staying to the left.
Travelers using southbound Broadway (north of the closed bridge) can take a right on Cass to access downtown via Tucker Blvd.
Will the express lanes go back to being reversible after this work?
No. This project is only to replace the Broadway bridge and express lane ramp. Current traffic evaluations show that there is a significantly higher amount of traffic on eastbound I-70 into the city, not only during the morning rush period, but also in the afternoon and evening periods. As such, the express lanes will remain eastbound only into the city.
Project media
Crews work on constructing the new ramp between the express lanes and Broadway in the city of St. Louis. For more photos of the construction, please visit our flickr link.
Anticipated detours for the full interstate closures for the Broadway Bridge over I-44 and ramp replacement project. The department anticipates about two full weekend interstate closures early in the project, and additional closures as girders for the bridge are set. For a larger, pdf view of the detour map, please click here.
Will people still be able to get into downtown?
Absolutely -- MoDOT is working very hard to ensure that all access to the existing ramps downtown remains. However, congestion levels may make it challenging or unsafe in some cases, to get to certain ramps from the express lanes. The department is planning to include smart work zone technology at the western entrance of the I-70 express lanes to tell people travel times on both the express lanes and on eastbound I-70 approaching this bridge, so they can make an informed decision on which route might be best for them.
What alternatives should people consider?
Those heading into downtown, especially during morning and evening rush, may want to consider using the Tucker or Broadway ramps to get into the city to avoid the most congestion. Drivers may also want to consider using I-170 to I-64 and enter the city that way. Drivers heading to Illinois should consider using I-64 or the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge on I-70 to cross the river.
Are there other work zones that may impact travel?
In 2022, there are several major projects on interstates throughout the greater St. Louis region that may impact travel. On I-270, there is a major bridge replacement just north of I-64 that will have lane closures and narrowed, shifted lanes. On I-255 across the Mississippi River, since one bridge will be closed, there will be one lane closed in each direction and the remaining lanes will be narrowed and shifted. On I-55 between I-44 and Holly Hills, there will be one lane closed in each direction and traffic will be narrowed and shifted. And, construction continues along the I-270 North corridor, with around the clock lane closures and traffic shifts.
Timeline of construction
Milestone |
Date |
|
Contract awarded |
December 2021 |
|
Construction begins |
February 2022 |
|
Interstate closures for bridge demolition |
February 2022 |
|
Southbound Broadway over I-44 closed |
February 2022 |
|
Express lanes closed |
March 2022 |
|
Express lanes reopen |
Spring 2023 |
|
Night/weekend I-44 closures for girders |
Roughly October 2022 |
|
Southbound Broadway reopens |
June 2023 |
|
Project complete |
June 2023 |