LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. — As crews begin the next phase of work on the bridge replacement project on U.S. Route 61 at the Cuivre River near Troy in Lincoln County, access to Northstar Drive and Watson Road will be temporarily closed. The construction of the new Cuivre River bridges is now complete and roadway operations continue in preparation for traffic to be shifted onto the new bridges.

Weather permitting, July 20, the access to Northstar Drive from southbound U.S. 61, north of Troy, will close for two weeks.  In conjunction with this closure, the access to Watson Road, from northbound U.S. 61, is scheduled to close the evening of July 24 and reopen the morning of July 27.

“This phase of the project includes entrance and approach work to complete the final stages of roadway realignment toward the new bridges,” stated Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer, Erik Maninga.

“On July 27, upon the reopening of Watson Road, all U.S. 61 northbound traffic will shift to the outside driving lane throughout the project limits, carrying traffic across the new northbound Cuivre River bridge.  The roadway will continue to be reduced to one lane of traffic throughout the project as crews then begin reconstruction work on the inside lane, the construction of acceleration and deceleration lanes as well as median work. Southbound U.S. 61 traffic will similarly shift on August 3, with the reopening of Northstar Drive. This marks a major milestone in the project as it progresses toward completion,” explained Maninga.

As this next phase begins, Watson Road north of Troy will remain inaccessible at the U.S. 61 crossover.   The temporary closure, including a signed detour, has been in place since early June and is expected to remain through mid-late August.

The contract to replace the bridges on U.S. Route 61 over the Cuivre River, along with making intersection improvements on Route KK just north of the bridges, was awarded by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to KCI Construction Company for $14,595,000.  The intersection improvements at Route KK, which were completed last fall, included an offset left turn lane on northbound U.S. 61, and an acceleration lane onto southbound U.S. 61.

Work zones are active throughout the state.  As you approach a work zone, please don’t drive distracted.  Always buckle up and put your phone down.  All work zones are online at www.modot.org, and you can receive the latest news about road work in your area by signing up for e-updates