WASHINGTON - Rehabilitation work is underway on the Route 47 Bridge over the Missouri River in Washington. The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor, St. Louis Bridge Construction Company, will operate temporary signals on the bridge and reduce it to one lane starting Monday, May 4. There will be continuous day and night operation of the signals until the rehabilitation project is completed in approximately December 2009. These temporary signals are located on the bridge and will alternate traffic north and southbound on Route 47. The speed limit will be reduced to 30 miles per hour during the project.

Majority of this work will take place under the bridge. The signalized locations on the bridge will rotate as work progresses this summer. Changeable message boards have been placed near Washington, Union, St. Clair and Warrenton to inform motorists of the lane closure and signal operation.

This work began in early March and is part of the rehabilitation project on the Route 47 Bridge, which is located at the Franklin and Warren Counties line. MoDOT and St. Louis Bridge Construction Company have been working together to reduce as much impact to motorists as possible.

The contractor is expected to close the bridge to traffic for two weekends during this project. The two weekends have not been determined at this time, but the public is assured the bridge will not be closed to traffic on holiday weekends, including: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Washington Town and Country Fair and Labor Day. For more information on the Route 47 Missouri River Bridge Rehabilitation project, please visit the webpage link below.

Motorists may experience delays during this work and are encouraged to use alternate routes. Plan ahead to avoid work zone by calling 1-888-ASK-MODOT or visiting our website at www.modot.org.

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