SIKESTON-Construction of five bridges on Route EE in Pemiscot County will kick off in early September. The bridges slated for replacement are located over Drainage Ditches 1, 251, 258, 259 and 65 near Peach Orchard, Missouri.
Construction is expected to begin Sept. 7, weather permitting. Contractor crews will first construct four bridges on new alignments. During this time, Route EE will remain open, and traffic will continue to utilize the existing structures over Drainage Ditches 1, 251, 258 and 259.
It will be necessary to close Route EE as the new bridges are tied-into the existing pavement and the final bridge over Drainage Ditch 65 is constructed. Completing the tie-ins and constructing the final bridge simultaneously will minimize the duration of the road closure.
A signed detour will be in place during the road closure. Completion of the five bridges is anticipated by July 31, 2022.
The bridges are part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Bootheel Bridge Bundle design-build project, which will improve 17 bridges throughout Southeast Missouri. Completion of the Bootheel Bridge Bundle design-build project is anticipated on or before Dec. 31, 2023. The design-build project website is available at https://www.modot.org/bootheel-bridge-bundle.
Four of the bridges are also included in Gov. Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state. A total of 13 Focus bridges will be addressed through the Bootheel Bridge Bundle.
The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.
For additional information, please contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or Travis Slayton, project manager for the Robertson Contractors Team, at (573) 785-0880.
###