The Illinois Department of Transportation is closing the Martin Luther King Bridge to all traffic for 12 days starting Monday, Oct. 12.


The department will be removing the existing Hot Mix Asphalt surface, installing a waterproofing membrane over the existing bridge deck surface and placing a new Hot Mix Asphalt surface over the waterproofing membrane. In addition, the department will work on placing a new concrete barrier wall, restriping the lanes, and installing new guardrail on the MLK Bridge from the railroad bridge to the Missouri approach.

The state will be using traffic control devices, including permanent and mobile electronic message boards, to notify motorists making their way through the work area. Motorists should take alternative routes such as the Poplar Street Bridge or the Eads Bridge and to allocate additional travel time. Motorists are also urged to be patient, reduce speed, and use caution when traveling through the area as traffic patterns and travel times will likely be affected.