ST. JOSEPH, Mo. –  U.S. Route 59 south of St. Joseph is set to close for up to a month in order to tie in a new bridge to the roadway.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said travelers on U.S. Route 59 south of St. Joseph have probably seen the new Bankers Crossing Bridge construction over the past several months beside the old bridge. In order to tie in the new bridge to the existing roadway, U.S. Route 59 will be closed up to 30 calendar days beginning July 14, 2015.

Traffic will be directed over a signed detour on Routes 752, 371 and 116.

MoDOT said while this closure will be a brief inconvenience for many, it brings much needed updates to the roadway. The old bridge, built in 1936, carries more than 5,000 cars per day and is structurally deficient. It is 24-feet wide with no shoulders and has limited sight distance, due to the curve of the highway. The new bridge is wider, provides shoulders for safety and realigns the roadway.