EXPECT LONG BACKUPS NORTH OF PLATTE CITY
In what has resulted in a traffic nightmare for southbound I-29 drivers a short distance north of Platte City, the Missouri Department of Transportation has closed the inside lane of southbound I-29 just south of MO Route 273.
The lane closure has caused long lines of backed up vehicles, with the backup at times covering a distance of around five miles. Some southbound drivers who are aware of the upcoming major slowdown have decided to exit at Camden Point and take Hwy. 371 into Tracy/Platte City before getting back on I-29.
This lane closure is for bridge work over the Platte River overflow. The lane closure began at about 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16 and MoDOT says it will remain closed until repairs can be completed.
The one lane closure is expected to remain in place through Nov. 4, MoDOT officials said Friday.
Though the lane was closed on Oct. 16, no immediate signs of construction were taking place. This led to further frustration for drivers.
One motorist reached out to MoDOT for an explanation for the closure even though no work was taking place, and shared with The Landmark the response he received from Tonya Lohman, Kansas City district maintenance engineer for MoDOT:
“I understand your frustration, since you can’t see what the problems are and do not see us working on the bridge or the pavement. This is actually a bridge and one of the bearings that holds the deck in place is moving. With the increased fall harvest traffic, the bridge deck was really starting to move. We had to close that lane to get the traffic off of it,” Lohman wrote.
“We also had to work with our bridge engineer and regional bridge crew to develop a plan to get crew underneath the deck to make the repair,” Lohman added.
“We do plan to begin repairs next week (week of Oct. 21) now that we have a plan and a mobile scaffolding unit that can go up and over the side of the bridge, then be lowered down beneath the deck, and from there the crew can stand on it to work from,” Lohman continued.
MoDOT says motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.
For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events: www.modot.org/kansascity.
