I-55 in South St. Louis City Closed This Weekend

All lanes of Interstate 55 from Carondelet to 4500 Broadway will close at 9 p.m. today. Crews will remove the Delor Bridge from over the interstate during the weekend.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) stated, in a news release, it will reopen I-55 on Monday at 5 a.m.

The road closure is part of the Interstate 55 Bridge Replacement Project to replace the Holly Hills and Delor Bridges. Both bridges were built in the early 1960s and have deteriorated to a point where replacing them is better than repairing them, MoDOT stated in the release.

Drivers should use Interstate 44 as an alternate route during the weekend.

Drivers who must use I-55 can use MoDOT's suggested detour routes:

• Southbound I-55: Exit at Broadway and turn left. Turn right on River City Casino Boulevard. Continue to Carondelet Avenue and follow to I-55.
• Northbound I-55: Exit at Carondelet and turn right. Continue on River City Casino Boulevard. Turn left on Broadway and follow to I-55.

Replacement bridges will be at the same location with a higher clearance over the interstate to meet Federal Highway standards. MoDOT will also create sidewalks and pedestrian ramps to comply with American Disabilities Act standards.

The Delor Bridge is expected to reopen in early October 2011.

Final dates for removing and replacing the Holly Hills Bridge still need to be scheduled, MoDOT said.

Replacing both bridges costs a total of $3 million dollars. The entire Interstate 55 Bridge Replacement Project is scheduled to end in December 2011.

Correction: The closed section of I-55 is in the city of St. Louis. An earlier version of this article said the section is in St. Louis County. The reporter and editors erred.