Upcoming routine maintenance and bridge inspections will close the I-229 double-decker bridge in St. Joseph starting Monday. The Missouri Department of Transportation says the bridge will be completely closed from 7 a.m. on Monday, March 18 through 6 p.m. on Friday, March 22 (weather permitting). The bridge will be reopened to traffic each evening.

MoDOT crews will close both the top and bottom decks of the I-229 bridge, northbound and southbound, from Highland Avenue to U.S. Hwy 36. Crews will be flushing and cleaning the bridge decks, performing routine maintenance and inspecting the bridge with a snooper truck.

Motorists should plan an alternate route. There will be no signed detour. Motorists may choose to use the following route to get around the closure:

from I-229
go westbound on U.S. Hwy 36
take the exit to U.S. Hwy 759/Fourth Street/Stockyards
head north on Fourth Street
go northeast on U.S. Hwy 59
turn west onto Highland Avenue
continue to I-229 northbound.
The reverse route would work for southbound traffic, as well.