CALLAWAY COUNTY - A damaged girder will extend the closure of the Route M Bridge over Interstate 70 in Callaway County. A contractor for the Missouri Department of Transportation discovered the damaged girder while removing the existing bridge deck as part of MoDOT's Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program.

The bridge deck replacement began in July and was expected to be complete by late August. The new girder must be fabricated and replaced before the bridge deck replacement can continue. The bridge will remain closed through late September.

"We understand that the extended closure may cause some inconvenience," said Chuck Sullivan, MoDOT Resident Engineer. "Ultimately, the delay is necessary to make sure the bridge is safe for travel."

The Route M Bridge is located at mile marker 144. The bridge is closed to traffic, but the ramps to and from I-70 are open. In order to cross the interstate, motorists are being detoured along I-70 to the next adjacent interchanges, which are Route 54 (mile marker 148) or Route J (mile marker 137). Periodic lane closures on I-70 can also be expected.

The Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program will improve 800 of Missouri's worst bridges in five years. Ninety bridges are being replaced or repaired in the mid-Missouri area as a part of this program.

For more information about the planned work or for a complete listing of bridges included in the program, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log onto www.modot.org/central. You can also follow MoDOT's Central District on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MoDOT_Central.