Construction is set to resume on the I-29 twin bridges over the Nishnabotna River in Atchison County. Crews from Phillips Hardy, Inc., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, are rehabilitating the north and southbound bridges located just south of the Iowa state line at mile marker 123. These bridges are included in Gov. Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state.

The contractor was able to complete the northbound bridge in 2021 and paused their work for the winter. Construction was scheduled to resume Tuesday, March 1, 2022, and crews will close one lane, each direction, on I-29 around the bridge to prepare for the traffic switch.

The southbound bridge will close Wednesday, March 2, 2022, and all traffic will be moved via crossovers into the northbound lanes so crews can rehabilitate the southbound bridge. Throughout the work, traffic will remain head-to-head in the northbound lanes. One lane, each direction is expected to remain open during the project, however an 18’ width restriction will be in place for northbound traffic and a 15’ width restriction will be in place for southbound traffic.   

The planned project schedule is as follows:

March 2, 2022 – crossovers will be utilized to direct traffic head-to-head in the northbound lanes of I-29 at the bridges. The replacement of the southbound bridge over the Nishnabotna River will begin.

Early August 2022 – work on the southbound bridge is complete, traffic will be restored and removal of the median crossovers will begin. During crossover removal intermittent lane closures are possible.

Drivers are urged to stay alert and pay attention to all roadway signing and barricades.