The Missouri Department of Transportation this year will be working on a number of major road projects that could impact metro-east drivers who commute across the Mississippi River.

Work includes:

Rebuilding the Interstate 64 at Tower Grove interchange:

During construction, I-64 will have narrowed and shifted lanes in both directions from Sarah to Kingshighway. Three lanes will be open weekdays from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. On weeknights and weekends, crews will close up to two of those lanes, but will keep one open in each direction around the clock. There are three scheduled full interstate closures planned to remove the bridges over the interstate and replace utilities under the interstate. The first scheduled closure will occur on the weekend of Jan. 25

Interstate 64 bridge replacement:

There will be long-term closures of roadways over the interstate as crews replace bridges. Taylor and Newstead over the interstate will be closed Monday, Jan. 21 until November 2013. When Taylor and Newstead are complete, crews will close Tower Grove and Boyle for three months. Other work may require closures of the Vandeventer or Boyle ramps. This $18 million interchange improvement project is expected to be complete in mid-2014.

Interstate 270 southbound widening:

One lane will be added to southbound I-270 from Dougherty Ferry Road to I-44. Daily lane closures from Manchester Road to I-44 will begin in late February during non-peak daytime hours. Blasting work and periodic interstate closures on weekdays will start this spring. This project will help improve the flow of traffic between I-64 and I-44 during the evening commute. The entire widening project on both northbound and southbound I-270 is approximately $12 million.

Interstate 70 Blanchette Missouri River Bridge:

I-70 is currently reduced from five lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction while crews perform a $64 million rehabilitation of the westbound bridge. Motorists are advised to use Route 370 and Route 364 as alternates especially during peak hours. Construction began in November and is expected to be complete in fall 2013.

Interstate 64 Daniel Boone Missouri River Bridge:

Construction begins this month on a new $111 million bridge to replace the existing westbound bridge. Motorists will use the existing two bridges while the new bridge is constructed. There will be minimal lane closures during off peak hours and a few weekends over the course of the three-year construction. Starting in February, there will be momentary midday closures of I-64 for rock blasting during weekdays. This work will only last a few weeks. Westbound I-64 lanes will be narrowed later this year, but the same number of lanes will be open for peak hours. The new bridge opens late 2014 with all construction complete in late 2015.