A project to widen Kearney Street (Route 744) on both sides of Route 65 and rehabilitate the Kearney Street bridge over Route 65 in Springfield is scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 6 and continue into mid-2009, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

Kearney Street will be widened to the west of Route 65 from near Mayfair Avenue and to the east of Route 65 to LeCompte Road .

During the week of Oct. 6, contractor crews will move in equipment.

On Monday, October 13, actual widening work is scheduled to begin, focusing first on the south side of Kearney Street east of Route 65.

No lane closings are planned during morning and afternoon rush hours. At times, however, drivers can expect lane closings as well as traffic shifts.

Congestion is expected to increase during construction.

Drivers are urged to allow for extra travel time through the Route 65/Kearney Street area and have alternate routes in mind to avoid traffic tieups at the interchange.

The project:

• Widen Kearney Street to five lanes (two through lanes and a center turn lane) between Route 65 and LeCompte Road.

• Repair and resurface the deck of the Kearney Street bridge over Route 65 in the spring of 2009.

• Widen eastbound Kearney Street starting near Mayfair Avenue to lengthen the left-turn lane for eastbound Kearney Street to northbound Route 65. The right-turn lane for eastbound Kearney Street to southbound Route 65 will remain.

• Install new storm drains along Kearney Street east of Route 65.

• Install new traffic signals and resurface ramps at the Kearney Street/Route 65 interchange.

The project is a partnership between MoDOT and the city of Springfield. City Utilities of Springfield is providing the relocation of some utility lines.

The prime contractor on the project is Hartman Construction of Springfield, doing the work for a low bid amount of $3 million.

The project is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2009.

For more information, contact our Springfield District Office at 417-895-7600 or 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).

Last updated: October 2008.