Bridge work starts this week on Kingshighway in Rolla

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Contractors have resumed rehabilitation work on several bridges over Interstate 44 in Phelps County with one complete, one underway and work beginning on the third this week.

As early as today, Monday, March 23, work to rehabilitate the Business U.S. 44/Missouri Route 72/Kingshighway bridge in Rolla will begin. One eastbound lane will remain open throughout construction, but all westbound lanes on the bridge will be closed. A signed detour will direct motorists along I-44 to Exit 186, then back onto I-44 to Exit 184. Construction at Kingshighway is expected to continue through August.

The rehabilitation of the Route D bridge southwest of Doolittle is now complete. The contractor then closed the bridge on Sugar Tree Road over I-44 and placed signs for a detour. That closure is expected to continue through mid-May.

While the supporting structures of these bridges are in good condition, the bridge decks have deteriorated and require rehabilitation work to extend their useful life. Work on the final two bridges in the bundle has not been scheduled:

• Phelps County Route E, in Rolla (Exit 185).
  • Northbound lane to close for sidewalk removal. At this time the southbound lane is expected to remain open.
• Phelps County Route J, 10 miles southwest of Doolittle (Exit 169).
  • Bridge to close for rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation of the Missouri Route 28 bridge over I-44 in St. Robert (Pulaski County) is also part of this bundle of work and was completed in 2025. Work on the remaining bridges is expected to be completed by the end of September 2026. That date could be extended, if unexpected deterioration is discovered during the work, as happened at the Route D bridge, or due to inclement weather.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $3,948,366.99 contract for this multi-bridge project to Concrete Strategies, LLC. For more information, visit the websites for these projects. While there, sign up for project-specific email updates:

MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.

For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation-related matters, please visit our Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/ or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with us on social media:

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