Drivers in Springfield may need to adjust their nighttime plans as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced lane closures on westbound Interstate 44. From next Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the right driving lane of westbound I-44 will be shut down between U.S. Route 65 and Glenstone Avenue. This temporary inconvenience is a necessary step in the “Forward 44: Springfield Improvements” project aimed at upgrading this bustling corridor in Greene County.
The construction work includes installing new pipe crossings, a move that will necessitate the closure of the northbound and southbound U.S. Route 65 ramps to westbound I-44, creating a head-to-head traffic pattern with the eastbound lanes. MoDOT advises drivers to anticipate possible delays and to seek alternative routes during these times. Noted for its insistence on keeping the public informed, MoDOT will employ signs and message boards to alert drivers of any changes in traffic patterns and advise on reduced speeds within the work zones, and motorists can also stay updated by checking MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for real-time road closures and impacts.
The ongoing “Forward 44” project doesn’t simply end with new pipe work. It ambitiously includes widening I-44 to six lanes between Missouri Route 13 and U.S. Route 65, as well as replacing several key bridges across the interstate. Additionally, MoDOT plans to enhance pedestrian accessibility with an underpass and trail improvements east of Grant Avenue, not to forget the construction of a sound wall to reduce highway noise for nearby residents. The whole shebang is coming with a hefty price tag of $70.7 million, dollars allocated with an eye on the future fluidity of Springfield’s traffic…