Roadwork will cause delays on another bridge to downtown St. Louis, IDOT says

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Tuesday lane restrictions and closures on another bridge metro-east residents depend on for their morning commutes to Missouri.

Starting Wednesday, IDOT will close the three center lanes of eastbound traffic on the Poplar Street Bridge in East St. Louis from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., officials said. It’s not clear how long the project will take to complete or how long the lanes will be subject to restrictions.

According to a release from IDOT, the lane restrictions are necessary for day crews to make repairs.

Both IDOT and the Missouri Department of Transportation have announced other projects that will restrict traffic on other bridges that connect the metro-east to Missouri.

Lanes on westbound I-270 on the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison County were closed beginning Monday with work expected to last three weeks, weather permitting.

Traffic is being reduced to one lane from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursday for repair work, according to a release last week from IDOT.

Meanwhile, south of downtown in Monroe County, traffic from the eastbound span of the Jefferson Barracks Bridge is being rerouted to a single lane on the westbound span.

The bridge is being closed for “significant rehabilitation,” according to MoDOT. Cracks in the structure were discovered during a routine inspection two year ago. They have been temporarily repaired until more thorough rehabilitation work could be scheduled.

The Koch Road exit ramp to the eastbound I-255 will also close at that time.

The work should be completed by December, MoDOT said.

IDOT advises drivers to expect delays or find alternate routes for their commute. It also cautions drivers to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices, and be alert for workers and equipment.

This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 5:51 PM.