By Bill Raack, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, MO – For the second time in three weeks, Interstate 70 will be shut down in both directions through north St. Louis this weekend.
Missouri Department of Transportation crews will knock down the Madison Street Bridge over the interstate. Traffic will be diverted through city streets until the highway is reopened in time for Monday morning's rush hour.
MoDot's Mississippi River Bridge project director, Greg Horn, says traffic was manageable through the detour two weeks ago when the Cass Avenue bridge was removed but he again urges drivers to avoid it, if possible.
"Don't come down 70. You don't want to be stuck in that detour. Come down I-64 and if you're coming from the south, up 55, get over to 44 and take Hampton or Kingshighway, one of those into the city," Horn said. "And if you're going from south county to north county, look at using 270."
The closure of the stretch of I-70 between the Poplar Street Bridge and St. Louis Avenue - and all ramps -- begins at 8 o'clock Friday night.