The Missouri Department of Transportation is getting set to temporarily close all lanes of I-70 in both directions for about seven miles through Kansas City and Independence.
The highway will be shut down between I-435 and I-470/MO-291 from 10 p.m. Friday until about 5 a.m. Monday. The closure runs approximately from the Truman Sports Complex to Independence Center. All on-ramps between the two points will be closed as well.
The closure is to make way for the demolition of three aging overpasses. The bridges to be demolished are at Pittman Road, Crysler Avenue and Phelps Road. All three bridges are listed by the Missouri Department of Transportation as being in “critical condition.” All were built in the early 1960s.
MoDOT plans to rebuild the bridges by December 2018.
During the full closure, traffic will be rerouted to I-435 and I-470 through Lee’s Summit. Here's a MoDOT map of the major detours.
Nic Telep is KCUR's morning news intern.