I-55 cut to one lane near Diversion Channel bridge

Southbound Interstate 55 temporarily will be reduced to one lane south of the Route AB interchange, beginning today, state highway officials said. The interstate still will have two lanes of southbound traffic across the Diversion Channel bridge.

"Penzel Construction will be pouring the new southbound onramp so traffic will be reduced to one lane just south of the interchange," said Stan Johnson, Missouri Department of Transportation area engineer.

Weather permitting, southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane for about 10 days for the construction work.

"Once this work is complete, we will reopen both southbound lanes to traffic," Johnson said.

The I-55/Route AB project includes a new seismically designed, three-lane span for northbound traffic across the Diversion Channel.

The project also involves relocating the interchange's onramps and offramps for better traffic flow, he said.

The project is expected to be completed late next year.