The Missouri Department of Transportation will close all lanes of I-70 downtown between Pine Street and the Poplar Street Bridge starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, weather permitting.

Drivers are advised to use I-64, I-55 or I-44 to get into and out of downtown during the I-70 closure. All lanes are projected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20.

Crews will be demolishing the Walnut Street Bridge as part of preparations for the CityArchRiver Park Over the Highway project.

The detour for the eastbound interstate closure will be to take the Pine Street exit, follow southbound Memorial Drive and get on either the Poplar Street Bridge or I-55/I-44. The detour for the westbound interstate will be to exit onto northbound Memorial Drive and continue on 3rd Street to the ramp to westbound I-70 at the Martin Luther King Bridge.

The Eads Bridge will also be closed while the interstate is closed to ensure that interstate traffic moves smoothly.

Walnut Street over the interstate is scheduled to be closed after morning rush on Friday, Jan. 17. It will remain closed until early April as crews build a wider bridge. Detours will be marked for people heading to the Old Cathedral while Walnut Street over I-70 is closed.

The work is part of the overall improvements to access between downtown and the interstate as part of the Park Over the Highway project. Crews will continue to work around Memorial Drive and the interstate ramps near Pine this winter and spring. It is a portion of CityArchRiver 2015, a project that will enhance the Gateway Arch experience for all visitors. The project will create a seamless park experience from the city to the Mississippi River. This work will not significantly impact access to the Gateway Arch, which remains open during construction.

People can view the on-going construction on the Walnut Street Bridge at the web camera at: http://oxblue.com/open/modot/cityarchriver.

Information about additional closures or traffic changes will be released when available.