Open house today details 60/65 interchange project

The interchange of U.S. highways 60 and 65 is undergoing a $57.1 million facelift starting this month, and an open house today will bring the public up to speed on how the project will affect them.

The project is expected to take three and a half years to complete and will result in periodic road closings, ramp closings and traffic shifts, as well as periodic closings of the nearby walking/biking trails, according to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release. The interchange sees about 125,000 vehicles daily, making it the busiest freeway-to-freeway crossroads in Missouri outside of St. Louis and Kansas City, according to MoDOT.

MoDOT and contractor representatives will be on hand Thursday to talk with the public, distribute printed materials and answer questions about the project. The open house-style meeting is at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4600 S. Chrisman Ave.; visitors can come and go any time between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Components of the project include:

• New flyover ramps for eastbound Highway 60 to northbound Highway 65 and northbound 65 to westbound 60;

• Replacement of the northbound 65 bridge over 60 and the westbound 60 bridge over Lake Springfield;

• New bridges on 60 over the railroad tracks to eliminate the need to stop traffic several times a week for coal trains;

• Widening of the eastbound 60 bridge over Lake Springfield;

• Rehabilitation of the southbound 65 bridge over 60; and

• New highway lighting and storm drains.

The project is funded by Amendment 3, which voters approved in 2004. The prime contractor is Archer Western Contractors of Illinois.

In addition to tonight's meeting, the public can sign up for project updates via e-mail by going to the link below or calling (417) 895-7600.[[In-content Ad]]