By  Melissa Black

Besides missing three bridges, motorists also should notice a cleaner, smoother section of Interstate 70 in Jackson County after last weekend. While construction crews were taking down the Crysler, Pittman and Phelps bridges over I-70, local Missouri Department of Transportation crews volunteered to work overtime during the closure to take care of some much-needed maintenance work on the closed seven-mile section of the interstate.

“We decided to take advantage of the closure to get some maintenance work done that is much more difficult to do with traffic on the roadways,” said MoDOT Superintendent Stephen Butler. “We were able to squeeze in about a months’ worth of work in two days with extra workers and no traffic.”

Five crews worked more than 20 hours on Saturday and Sunday on the following: drainage, sweeping, flushing, traffic control and mowing. Once completed, some of this work included:

  • Cleaned 22 drains and flushed six clogged pipes that are more than 70 feet long and three feet wide.
  • Flushed eastbound and westbound I-70 bridges over Route 40 and Sterling Ave.
  • Patched eastbound and westbound I-70 from Manchester to Highway 291 using three tons of patching mix.
  • Swept from Manchester to Highway 291, and the barrier walls on several bridges and ramps. In total, crews collected four truckloads of trash.

 “We saved motorists from future traffic impacts by doing this work while the road was already closed,” Butler said. “And our employees were able to work more safely at the same time. Hopefully motorists will notice a smoother, cleaner drive in that area now.”

Please remember when encountering workers on roads that all work zones are NO PHONE ZONES. Buckle up. Phone down. Arrive alive.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.

For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit our website at www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on Twitter, or share posts and comments on our Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity.  MoDOT Kansas City maintains more than 7,000 miles of state roadway in nine counties. Sign up online for work zone updates or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

Share