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Project:
- National Avenue – Widen National Avenue bridge (10 feet on each side) over James River Freeway to provide three lanes in each direction across the bridge.
- Widen ramps to provide dual right-turn lanes from westbound James River Freeway to northbound National Avenue and dual left-turn lanes from eastbound James River Freeway to northbound National Avenue.
- Add lane in each direction on National Avenue south of bridge to Kingsley Street and north of bridge to Bradford Parkway.
- Install new traffic signal for James River Freeway off-ramp traffic turning right onto National Avenue.
- James River Freeway – Build additional lane in each direction on James River Freeway between National Avenue and Campbell Avenue.
- CoxHealth – Build service road on the east side of National Avenue and underpass underneath National Avenue north of the freeway for quicker, safer travel to the Cox South Hospital emergency department and other CoxHealth facilities. (CoxHealth is contributing to the project.)
Traffic Impacts:
Expect traffic slowdowns because of lane closings, narrowed lanes and lane shifts on National Avenue:
- At times, lanes on the National Avenue bridge over James River Freeway will be reduced to one through lane and one left-turn lane in each direction.
- In the area north of the bridge and south of Primrose Street, National Avenue will be reduced to three lanes (two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other).
- Nighttime lanes closings will be needed at times on the James River Freeway between National and
Campbell Avenue
- Access will remain OPEN to Cox Health facilities on both sides of National Avenue, and that includes the Cox South Hospital emergency rooms.
TRAFFIC OFTEN WILL MOVE SLOWLY through the work zone.
Visiting health-care facilities and businesses along National Avenue near the freeway?
You WILL be able to get there, but plan extra travel time.
Commuting through the area on National Avenue without needing to visit a business?
If possible, AVOID the construction entirely by using other streets.
Project Completion: August 2010
How the Diverging Diamond Interchange Will Work:
- Signs, pavement markings and raised concrete islands at criss-cross points on National Avenue will guide drivers across left-hand side of bridge.
- With no left-turn lanes to fill up on the National Avenue bridge, three lanes of traffic can keep mov- ing across the bridge, reducing stand-still time and rear-end crashes.
- With "free left" turns at the ramps on either end of the National Avenue bridge, drivers will not have to cross oncoming traffic or wait for a left-turn arrow to turn onto the James River Freeway. That will eliminate right-angle crashes on the bridge.
To learn, drive the new interchange at Kansas Expressway and I-44 where the first-in-the-nation Diverging Diamond Interchange is now in service. Or visit modot.org/springfield to view the animation on how to drive the new interchange at Kansas Expressway and I-44.
Cost:
- $9.7 million, including $7.5 million for construction and $2.2 million for design and right-of-way acquisition. MoDOT and City of Springfield each will pay $4.85 million. CoxHealth will pay its share to the city.
- City of Springfield is using federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and voter-approved 1/8- cent transportation sales tax funds.
- Prime contractor: Emery Sapp and Sons, Columbia.
For more information, contact our Springfield District Office at 417-895-7600 or
1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).
Last updated: September 2009.
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