(MoDOT) — Dirt work is set to begin this week on the north end of the Belt Highway in St. Joseph, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Contractors will begin working Nov. 10, 2014, on the west side of the highway at County Line Road and working southward.

Once the work on the west side is completed, they will move to the east side of the highway and proceed north.

During this project, motorists will encounter single lane closures in various locations between Ashland and County Line Road. Work will be conducted from approximately 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with weekend work taking place only if necessary. The dirt work is in preparation for a sidewalk project along the North Belt Highway. The project will fill in sidewalk gaps from Ashland to Northridge Drive on the east side of the highway and from Northridge Drive to County Line Road on the west.

“Filling these sidewalk gaps to make this area much more accessible for pedestrians has been a goal for a long time, and we are pleased we have finally received funding to do so,” said Wes Moore, MoDOT project manager. “More people will able to safely walk to the many restaurants, shops and other attractions in the vicinity without having to drive.”

Contractors are hoping to get most of the dirt work done this fall, before winter weather prevents further work. Any work that is left unfinished this year will be completed in the spring of 2015, prior to sidewalk installation. The contract for the sidewalk installation portions of the project will go out for bid as part of the Nov. 21, 2014, letting, with work to begin in 2015.