East Main interchange work could begin by Sept. 11

Construction of the East Main Street interchange on Interstate 55 could get underway by mid-September as the contractor races to get initial work done so traffic can be detoured before winter hits.

"It really depends on whether or not the weather cooperates," said Andy Meyer, project manager for the Missouri Department of Transportation in Sikeston, Mo.

MoDOT plans to open bids on the approximately $8 million project on July 28.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission could award a contract at its meeting on Aug. 9. If that happens, construction could commence by Sept. 11, Meyer said.

The cities of Jackson and Cape Girardeau are constructing the connecting roads. Jackson is footing the bill for East Main Street on the west side of the interchange while Cape Girardeau will pay the cost of constructing LaSalle Avenue on the east side.

That road work will be in addition to the estimated cost for the interchange itself, Meyer said.

As for the interchange work, MoDOT wants the contractor first to construct the northbound off ramp and northbound on ramp on the east side of the planned interchange.

The ramps then will be used as a detour for Interstate 55 traffic while workers construct two bridges that will carry the interstate traffic when completed.

"We will go in and take out the existing pavement of I-55, excavate a hole about 30 feet deep and build two bridges," Meyer said.

East Main Street actually will be constructed under I-55, Meyer said.

The sooner the two east-side ramps are finished, the sooner the contractor will be able to start working on the two bridges, he said.

"That is where the weather becomes critical," the project manager said.

The ramps would allow one lane of northbound and one lane of southbound traffic while work continues on the new interchange, Meyer said.

MoDOT resident engineer Darius Dowdy said the contractor could start work on the two bridges during the winter which is normally a down time for earthwork.

State highway officials don't believe the construction will cause significant traffic delays.

Meyer said the heaviest traffic locally is on the stretch of Interstate 55 from Center Junction to the Scott City exit. "This wouldn't work if we were doing it there," Meyer said of the planned detour.

If the contractor doesn't run into too much inclement weather, the interchange could be finished by winter 2007. But bad weather could delay completion until the fall of 2008, MoDOT's Dowdy said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123