New I-55 interchange inches toward being able to open

Less than two days' work stands between drivers using the East Main Street/LaSalle Avenue interchange at Interstate 55.

The problem is getting those two days.

The rainy weather has prevented striping lanes and installing signs, according to Rick Lamb, senior construction inspector for MoDOT.

"We need a full day to a day-and-a-half to stripe everything," he said. "It's got to be above freezing and it's got to be dry for the stripe to bond. Then we have one more day of about six hours, for putting up signs."

Lamb said a Monday opening the interchange is optimistic.

"It really depends on the rain getting out of here and everything staying dry enough and warm enough," he said. "We're still six months ahead of schedule."

He said work could start as soon as Saturday.

Once Dumey Contracting's striping gets underway, drivers can expect one-lane traffic between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.

Northbound and southbound lanes of I-55, between mile markers 100 and 103, will be reduced to one lane while the work is being done.

For project details, call MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636.