State Proposes New Lanes on I-55
Date Posted: May 18, 2021
Posted In: News,
From Leader Publications: A third lane could be added to I-55 in each direction from north of Pevely through south of Festus if the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approves a five-year plan the Missouri Department of Transportation has proposed for improvements to state-maintained roads.
MoDOT is seeking public feedback about the proposed Statewide Transportation Program (STIP), which includes 1,417 highway and bridge projects around Missouri, mostly maintenance rather than new construction.
The agency has proposed 19 projects specific to Jefferson County roads that, if all are approved and completed, would cost a total of about $197,352,000.
By far, the largest-ticket project for Jefferson County would be the addition of the third lane on I-55, from 1 1/2 miles north of Hwy. Z in Pevely to 1 mile south of Hwy. 67 south of the Twin Cities.
The estimated cost of that project, which would be built sometime between July 2023 and June 2024, is $112,343,000.
“This is a really big deal,” said MoDOT area engineer Stephen O’Connor. “I’m really glad to see it’s in there. It would add a lane both northbound and southbound.
“We see a lot of accidents in this stretch, particularly at the north end by southbound traffic trying to squeeze from three lanes to two. There is a lot to this project – there are 23 bridges in that stretch – and the interchanges would undergo some changes as well,” he said.
“This is definitely needed for Jefferson County,” O’Connor said, “and I’d say it’s one of the overall top priorities for the St. Louis area, which also includes the city and county, St. Charles and Franklin counties. It’s that huge. I fully expect that it will be approved.”
Overall, O’Connor said, the STIP draft has an emphasis on bridge maintenance, a priority set by Gov. Mike Parson.