CLAY COUNTY, MO. - MoDOT crews have been busy closing bridges and rehabilitating or replacing the structures as part of the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program. Next on the list of closures is the Route N Bridge over Fishing River south of Excelsior Springs in Clay County. This bridge will close on Monday, Aug. 2 for no more than 55 days, weather permitting.

This 74 year-old bridge, awarded to KTU Constructors, carries more than 968 vehicles per day and must be closed during bridge replacement.  A signed detour will be in place during the closure. Northbound traffic will need to take westbound Route 210 to northbound Route JJ to Excelsior Springs and across Route 10 to reach Route N.  

The Safe & Sound program will improve 800 of Missouri's worst bridges in five years.  In the Kansas City area, MoDOT will replace or repair 145 bridges - 10 in Clay County, of which MoDOT has already completed four. The remaining bridges that MoDOT will replace this year include this one and the Route 10 Bridge over 69, closing on August 3. In 2011-13, the remaining four bridges will be done. Complete bridge closure is necessary to allow the contractor to complete the work quickly and get the bridges back open faster. It also keeps our down by minimizing the need for additional right of way or for costly roadway work.  

Inclement weather could postpone the project. For further information about this project and others, please visit MoDOT's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/modot.kansascity, Twitter site at www.twitter.com/modot_kc, or web site at www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity. You can also contact MoDOT 24 hours-a-day at 888-ASK-MODOT to find out information or report road concerns.

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