The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor are beginning the process of returning Interstate 70 at the Blanchette Missouri River Bridge in St. Charles, just northwest of St. Louis, back to its normal configuration of five lanes in each direction on two bridges. 

The $64 million rehabilitation of the westbound bridge is nearly ready to put traffic back on the westbound bridge. From August 9 through August 26, crews will have various lane and ramp closures to move traffic back to the two bridges. This work is more than two months ahead of the schedule of November 1

On August 9, only one lane will be open on westbound I-70 from Route 141 to Fifth Street from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., August 10. Only two lanes will be open on both eastbound and westbound I-70 from Fifth Street to Route 141 on August 10 from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. The ramp from southbound Fifth Street to eastbound I-70 will be closed from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday.

On August 14 and August 15, crews will have one to two lanes closed westbound I-70 from I-270 to the bridge from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for restriping and barrier wall removal. All of the exits and entrance ramps to and from westbound I-70 and Route 141/Earth City Expressway will be closed on these two nights. The goal is to have traffic on the westbound bridge the morning of August 16. Initially the bridge will open with three lanes of I-70 and one exit only lane for Fifth Street.

Additional lane closures will be needed the week of August 19-23.  The state DOT expects multiple lane and ramp closures the weekend of August 23-26 to complete the transition back to the normal five lanes in each direction. Those dates and closures will be announced as the information is available.

All work is weather permitting and the days may change due to rain.

For more information on the I-70 Blanchette Bridge rehabilitation project, go to www.modot.org/blanchettebridge.