ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Intersection improvement work has already begun at U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) and Route YY (Mitchell Avenue) in St. Joseph, but an upcoming phase of the project will require some motorists to seek an alternate route across the Belt Highway.

Contractors from Mega Industries Corporation, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will remove the old pavement at the intersection and lay new pavement August 8-11 and August 15-18.

This work will necessitate two four-day around-the-clock closures of Mitchell Avenue at the Belt Highway and the narrowing of traffic on the Belt to one lane in each direction. The first closure will begin at approximately 7 a.m. on Monday, August 8. Contractors plan to reopen access across the Belt Highway at Mitchell by 5 p.m. Thursday, August 11. They will then close the road again on Monday, August 15 through Thursday, August 18, during the same hours.

During the closure, all business entrances on Mitchell Avenue will be accessible, traffic will only be restricted from crossing or accessing the Belt Highway from Mitchell Avenue. Motorists traveling north and south on the Belt Highway may notice delays and will not be able to turn onto Mitchell Avenue from the Belt Highway.

All work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled.