Update: First blast at Boone Bridge expected Feb. 19

Rock blasting along I-64 at the St. Charles County end of the Daniel Boone Missouri River Bridge will start Tuesday, Feb. 19, weather permitting.  The first blast to require the slowing of traffic to stop for the blast is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21.  Traffic on I-64 will be slowed and potentially stopped for up to 10 minutes at 2 p.m. for approximately one month.  The blasting will occur every day or every other day Monday through Friday.

At the time of the blast, local law enforcement vehicles and construction vehicles will slow I-64 traffic.  Eastbound traffic will be slowed starting at the Hwy. 94 interchange. Westbound traffic will be slowed starting at the Boone’s Crossing interchange.  Entrance ramps at Missouri Research Park and Chesterfield Airport Road will be momentarily closed during the daily blasting operations. In addition to the 5-minute to 10-minute disruption to I-64 traffic, KATY Trail users will also be stopped on the trail adjacent to the bridge.

The blasting work is necessary to build the new shared use path from the end of the new eastbound bridge down to connect to the KATY Trail in St. Charles County.

Construction of the new I-64 Daniel Boone Bridge began in January.  The new eastbound bridge will be opened to traffic in late 2014.  In 2015, the current eastbound bridge will be rehabilitated.  By the end of 2015, westbound I-64 traffic will be moved to this bridge and the current 1935 westbound bridge will be removed.

Motorists are advised to slow down in the work zone and be prepared for these early afternoon delays.  For more information on the I-64 Daniel Boone Missouri River Bridge project including drawings of the new bridge, go to www.modot.org/boonebridge .