The director of Missouri’s Department of Transportation is taking a medical leave of absence and plans to resign his post.

The department announced Thursday that Kevin Keith’s leave is effective immediately and he will resign July 1st.

Chief engineer David Nichols will serve as interim director until the state Highways and Transportation Commission appoints a new director. Commission chairman Joe Carmichael says Nichols will serve at least one year.

Keith spent more than 25 years working for MoDOT. He was the agency’s chief engineer before being named director in November 2010.

The nature of Keith’s medical issue was not disclosed.