By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – The Missouri Department of Transportation says the closure of the Poplar Street Bridge ramp to westbound I-70 will take longer than the last repair and cause more traffic backups.
The ramp closed Monday at noon; workers will spend the next two weeks replacing old pavement.
MODOT spokeswoman Linda Wilson says bridge traffic will be very heavy, and motorists should use alternate routes or public transportation.
"You've got so much going on as you come from Illinois into Missouri with the different lanes going to the three different interstates," Wilson said. "We are expecting that to be much worse than the ramp we just closed and reopened within a week."
The eastbound I-70 ramp opened ahead of schedule. Wilson says workers had good weather and found the ramp's sub-pavement to be in good shape.
After this project is complete, one of the I-55 ramps will be the next to close.