Be Ready For Slowdowns On I-55 As Renovation Work Begins

(FESTUS, CRYSTAL CITY, HERCULANEUM, PEVELY) Preliminary work on the I-55 improvement project has started and with that comes a reduced speed in the work zones. An official groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday morning at the Herculaneum Fire House. Area 1st Responders will have their hands full from time to time, and Festus Fire Chief Jeff Broombaugh says accidents will certainly take place, and warns drivers to be mindful and patient.

I-55 traffic will be kept open to two lanes in each direction during weekday peak hours, with road restrictions limited to the weekends, and then only for short periods of time. If persistent slowdowns and lane closures occur, many drivers may use other roadways to detour around the work, such as 61/67 and Highway A. Chief Broombaugh says that could cause issues around the community as well.

The work will generally move northward from the Highway 61/67 interchange, while the segment that involves reconfiguring the intersection at 67 and Highway CC should begin later this 2024 and be complete in late 2025.

The entire I-55 project should be finished by the end of 2026. The $246 million project includes adding a third lane of northbound and southbound traffic, replacing or renovating 12 bridges, and changing a few of the on and off-ramps at certain intersections.