FESUTS, MO (KMOX)–The Missouri Department of Transportation presented Jefferson County residents with preliminary designs to improve Interstate 55 Wednesday night. Project Manager Justin Wolf says a goal of the 246 million dollar project is to add a lane from Pevely to Festus.
"Right now we are looking at the issues that need to be addressed whether it's congestion or safety issues," Wolf said. "Still a lot on the board but they do have some concepts adding a lane in each direction of Interstate 55."
From design to build, MODOT has three phases. Wolf says they are about to start Phase 3. That means construction could start in fall of next year. Their designs include an overhaul of U-S 67 at CC in Festus--which is notorious for blind spots and back ups.
US 67 and Route CCKMOX/Stuart McMillian
Wolf says they tracked about 70,000 vehicles a day traveling 55 at Pevely. He says the further south you go there's closer to 20 thousand drivers a day continuing south on 67.
"Seeing the drop in the average daily traffic the further you go south shows how important the 67/55 interchange is."
Pevely Interchange AreaMODOT
Herculaneum Interchange AreaMODOT
Festus and 67 and CC interchangesMODOT
