ST. LOUIS (KTRS) More than 230 roads remain closed across the state. Interstate 55 closed in the southbound direction at noon between St. Louis and Jefferson counties. The Missouri Department of Transportation says northbound lanes of I-55 are expected to close before evening rush. Interstate 44 remains closed in St. Louis for more than 20 miles. Motorists should check the Traveler Information Map at www.modot.org before traveling.
Interstate 44 is closed from I-270 to Route 100 in St. Louis and Franklin counties but has reopened at Hazelgreen in Laclede County. Travelers headed across Missouri should avoid using I-44. The detour in St. Louis is taking up to two hours to go 30 miles. Motorists can use Interstate 70 between St. Louis and Kansas City and then use Interstate 435 to Interstate 49 to Joplin to reconnect to Interstate 44.
The closure of I-55 in St. Louis will make travel difficult between St. Louis and southeast Missouri. The Route 51 Mississippi River Bridge (Chester Bridge) in Perry County is expected to close Thursday at noon. Motorists should consider Interstate 57 at Sikeston across the Mississippi River into Illinois as a cross-state, north-south detour.