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Northbound Stretch of Highway 65 In Springfield To Close For Several Days

Traffic Near a Highway 65 North Sign
MODOT
Traffic Near a Highway 65 North Sign
Traffic Near a Highway 65 North Sign
Credit MODOT
Traffic Near a Highway 65 North Sign

Starting early Friday morning, northbound Highway 65 will be closed from James River Freeway to Sunshine.  It’s the final phase of the project to rebuild the original concrete pavement from the 1970s.

Angela Eden, with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said motorists who use that stretch of roadway should have a plan.

"We're asking drivers right now to find alternate routes, or think of alternate routes, that they can use to avoid Highway 65 if possible," said Eden.  "If that is their normal way to go, they just need to know that they will likey experience heavy congestion on Friday morning as well as Monday morning."

MODOT is telling the public the roadway could be closed until September 20.  But she said they've worked out an agreement with the contracter to allow two sections (Battlefield to Sunshine and Battlefield to Route 60) to be closed at once, so the northbound lanes can reopen by September 14 or 15. 

There will be marked detours for motorists passing through Springfield on Highway 65.  Drivers will either have to go east or west on Route 60.  Those who go east will go to Route 125 and will go north on 125 to either I-44 or another route to get back into Springfield.  Those who go west will stay on 60 to I-44 and go eastbound back to Highway 65 or  westbound to a destination west of Springfield.

Because of the pavement replacement project, MODOT expects it won't have to do any major work to Route 65 for another 40 years.

The Rebuild Project started in 2017.

Copyright 2021 KSMU. To see more, visit KSMU.

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Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.