ROUTE K AT I-55 TO BECOME MORE CONGESTED WITH HIGHWAY WIDENING

The Route K bridge over Interstate 55 is congested, but it will be more congested beginning next week when construction to widen the bridge begins.

"Anytime you have construction you can count on delays," Missouri Highway and Transportation Department resident engineer Bob Wilson said.

But, he said, the bridge will be kept open to traffic with minimal delay during daylight hours. Traffic delays should last no longer than 15 minutes.

Lane closings on Route K will be restricted to nighttime hours, Wilson said.

Changeable message signs will be erected north of the Jackson-Fruitland exit and south of the South Cape Girardeau-Highway 61 exit to alert motorists of the construction.

Motorists are expected to use those exits. Bloomfield Road could provide an alternate route for Cape Girardeau residents traveling to Wal-Mart and the other businesses in the Cape West Business Park, Wilson said.

The project is intended to reduce traffic congestion.

The bridge will be widened to seven lanes. The current roadway is 52 feet wide. The new roadway will be 108 feet wide, including shoulders.

"At the off ramps, we will have two left turn lanes and one right turn lane," Wilson said.

Construction on the $3.8 million project is expected to be completed Dec. 1. The St. Louis Bridge Co. is the contractor on the project.