*DISTRICT 8, SPRINGFIELD - It may be necessary to close the Route 64 bridge over Pomme de Terre Lake near Nemo at night through the month of October, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
The closings will take place between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Contractor crews are applying a silica fume overlay to the newly redecked bridge. The silica fume is a resurfacing technique to seal the bridge deck and create a smooth ride over the span.
The contractor had hoped to do the work during the day, closing one lane at a time on the bridge. However, when the work began, crews determined it would be necessary to close the bridge at night to more safely accommodate the needed equipment and the crews doing the work.
"Because of the narrow width of the bridge, crews need the room to work safely," said MoDOT Operations Engineer Andy Mueller.
After mid-October, the nighttime bridge closings may not be necessary every night.
State highways U.S. 65, Route NN and Route 64 are set up as a detour during the nighttime bridge closings.
During the day, there will be one-lane traffic across the bridge. Crews will allow the silica fume to cure properly. They also will sandblast the bridge deck and build forms to prepare for the night work. Temporary traffic signals will regulate the one-lane traffic across the bridge.
It is important for drivers to obey the traffic signals which will stop traffic on either end. Drivers may have to sit at the red light for up to three minutes. This is necessary to allow plenty of time for opposing traffic to clear the bridge before the traffic signal turns green.
Maintenance work on the bridge's substructure will be done underneath the bridge -- AWAY from traffic.
The bridge is being rehabilitated. The deck is being replaced and the substructure maintained. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of November.
The contractor on the project is Columbia Curb and Gutter of Columbia doing the work for a low bid amount of $5.5 million.
