U.S. 54 over I-70 to close in Kingdom City for bridge demolition

KINGDOM CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Drivers traveling through Kingdom City will need to plan for a temporary closure of U.S. 54 over Interstate 70 as crews prepare to demolish two bridges.

The Missouri Department of Transportation will begin the demolition at 7 p.m. Friday, with work expected to continue until 5 a.m. Nov. 2.

MoDOT I-70 Program Director Erick Kopinski said the bridges were built in the early 1960s and have reached the end of their service life.

The work is part of improvements to the I-70 and U.S. 54 interchange in Kingdom City and the $405 million Improve I-70 project between Columbia and Kingdom City. The two bridges scheduled for demolition are located in the middle of the new roundabout at the interchange.

The demolition follows other bridge removals along the I-70 corridor, including the Providence Road bridge and St. Charles Road bridge in Columbia.

“Across the state, we've probably closer to about 10 demos that we've done,” Kopinski said.

What drivers need to know

During the demolition, drivers will not be able to cross I-70 on U.S. 54. The roundabout will be closed, but the ramps at Exit 148 will remain open.

Both directions of the roadway on I-70 will also narrow to one lane. Drivers will be directed up and over the Exit 148 ramps before returning to the interstate.

Kopinski said scheduling a bridge demolition is challenging because of the amount of traffic traveling along I-70.

“There really never is a good time for us to do a bridge demolition. Especially along I-70, where there's such significant traffic,” Kopinski said.

Drivers traveling on U.S. 54 will need to follow detours:

• Eastbound U.S. 54: Take eastbound I-70 to Callaway County Routes A/Z at Exit 155, then return to westbound I-70.
• Westbound U.S. 54: Take westbound I-70 to Callaway County Route M at Exit 144, then return to eastbound I-70.

MoDOT said all ramps at Route M/Hatton will remain open during the demolition. After the work is complete, the eastbound ramps are expected to close again.

Motorists should allow extra travel time, follow posted detour signs and use caution when traveling through construction zones.

Other Mid-Missouri roadwork

Several highway maintenance and construction projects are also scheduled across Mid-Missouri from Monday, Oct. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 1, including work in Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole and Cooper counties.

“We continue to do about over $1 million worth of work in Mid-Missouri every single day,” Kopinski said.

According to MoDOT, the Providence Road bridge over I-70 in Columbia is expected to reopen in mid-November. The bridge has been under reconstruction since it was demolished in late May.

Check back for updates.