Part of I-44 in Springfield, Mo, will be closed for about 18 hours Saturday, Feb., 21, for the demolition of the northbound Glenstone Avenue bridge.


The bridge is being torn down to be replaced with a new one. In the fall, a new northbound bridge will open to two-way traffic and the existing southbound bridge will be taken down. When the project is complete in the summer of 2010, a diamond-shaped interchange will replace the current, challenging I-44/Glendstone Ave. cloverleaf.

The plan calls for closing I-44 at 12:01 a.m. and reopening I-44 by 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21. (If snow or ice occur, the closing and demolition will be moved to Saturday, Feb. 28.)

Lane closings on I-44 will begin as early as 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, with complete I-44 closing by 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Eastbound I-44 will be blocked at Glenstone Avenue. Westbound I-44 will be blocked at Route 65.

Long-distance, cross-state travelers along I-44 are urged to use detours along other freeways around Springfield on Saturday, Feb. 21. Orange signs will mark the detours.

* Eastbound I-44 -- Take eastbound Route 360 (at Mile Marker 69) and Route 60 and northbound Route 65 to I-44 (at Mile Marker 82).

* Westbound I-44 -- Take southbound Route 65 (at Mile Marker 82 ) to westbound Route 60 and Route 360 to I-44 (at Mile Marker 69).