ST. LOUIS - The eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 between Mason Road and Interstate 270 will be restriped this weekend.  The work will return the lanes to three I-64 lanes in preparation for the complete opening of the I-64 project later this year. 

For the past two years, eastbound I-64 from Mason Road to I-270 has included two I-64 lanes, one lane for northbound I-270 and one lane for southbound I-270.  "This lane arrangement helped traffic detour to I-270 and to the other interstates of I-44 and I-70 to avoid the closed sections of I-64," said Assistant District Engineer Tom Blair.  " With I-64 reopening before the end of the year, we needed to restripe three straight lanes for I-64.  Even though we don't have a date for the reopening yet, we are getting this work done while we know we have good weather conditions."

But, the lanes are not returning exactly as they were before.  The biggest change for drivers will be one of the I-64 lanes will be shared with the exit to northbound I-270.  "We do not have enough space to have five lanes in order to keep three straight for I-64 and one for each direction of I-270," said Blair.  "We also know the I-270 ramps are very heavily used, so we are using the concept of a shared lane.  The slow lane of I-64 will be for straight traffic and traffic exiting to northbound I-270.  The on ramp from Mason Road will become the exit lane to southbound I-270 only."

To complete the striping changes, eastbound I-64 will have three lanes closed from 9 p.m. Saturday, November 7 until 9 a.m. Sunday, November 8.  One lane of eastbound I-64 will be open to traffic.  Motorists are strongly encouraged to avoid this section of I-64 during this time.

Monday morning motorists are advised to pay attention to the signs indicating the new lane arrangements.  A drawing of the new striping is available at http://www.modot.org/ and on the I-64 project website at http://www.thenewi64.org/.

For traffic conditions and more information, visit http://www.modot.org/ or call our customer service department at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

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