Paving underway on Scott City's Main Street

For the next week motorists using Main Street in Scott City can expect nighttime delays.

Crews with Apex Paving Co. began work Monday evening on the resurfacing of Main Street from just west of Interstate 55 to Route N on the city's eastern end.

Traffic was reduced to one lane in work areas, causing some traffic delays Monday night. Work started on the east end of town near Old Illmo, where fewer cars travel Main Street than in the area closer to I-55.

MoDOT senior construction inspector Rick Lamb said only sections of the stretch would be reduced at one time to help keep traffic moving, but that delays are inevitable.

To minimize delays, the work is being done at night, starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 7 a.m. each day. The work was originally to take place between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but Lamb said the extra time was allotted so the project could be finished more quickly.

Lamb said paving crews will work to make sure side streets aren't blocked during the project.

Scott City administrator Ron Eskew said the city is happy to see the work going forward. But Eskew said he hopes the 5 p.m. start time won't have too much of a negative effect on the after-work traffic rush.

Mayor Tim Porch said the most problematic work times will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

Lamb said crews should be able to finish the work in one week, weather permitting.

Main Street carries 15,410 vehicles a day, according to MoDOT.

Work on the project was first scheduled to begin in March. However, the project was delayed because the contractor, Apex, was tied up with resurfacing I-55 from Fruitland to Scott City. That work is nearing completion, so crews are free to start the Scott City project.

Porch estimates at least 20 years have passed since resurfacing work was done on Main Street. The current surface has developed visible cracks, washboards and ruts. That surface will be stripped away and replaced with a completely new surface.

The project is an Amendment 3 project, and the estimated cost is $466,793.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182