WESTON, MO - The Missouri Department of Transportation in conjunction with Kansas City Power and Light is currently constructing a temporary bridge, or shoofly, to maintain traffic along Route 45 over Bear Creek just outside of Weston, Mo. MoDOT will be replacing the existing bridge as part of the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program.

            Awarded to Hill Brothers Construction, this $372,917 project will keep Route 45 open to traffic, allowing motorists to pass over Bear Creek while the new bridge is constructed. Those driving through the work zone may encounter lane closures and flagging operations for the construction of the bypass. Placed just east of the permanent structure, the shoofly should be open to traffic by the first part of October, weather permitting.

            Safe & Sound Bridge crews are expected to begin demolition on the more than 70-year-old Bear Creek Bridge by Oct. 12. The new bridge should be open to traffic no later than the end of December.

The Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program will improve 800 of Missouri's worst bridges over the next five years.  In District 4, MoDOT will replace or repair 145 bridges, with 15 in the Platte County area.

For more information about this project, or the Safe & Sound Bridge Program, please visit our website at http://www.modot.org/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on Twitter or send questions and comments to kccommunityrelations@modot.mo.gov.

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