MoDOT offers update on Nightmare on 7th Street

(From MoDOT)

Progress Update for Route 66 Improvement Project for Week of July 27

A project to make pavement, sidewalk, traffic and safety improvements along Missouri Route 66 (7th Street) in Joplin is underway. Here is an update of the work scheduled for the week of July 27.

Work scheduled

Contractor installing new sidewalk, curb and entrances between Florida Avenue and Ozark Avenue

Excavation and placing new stormwater structures between Florida Avenue and Ozark Avenue

Preparing for new roadway pavement between Ozark Avenue and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad tracks

City of Joplin crews maintaining steel plates at intersection with St. Louis Avenue ahead of completion of sanitary sewer work

City of Joplin preparing for sanitary sewer work at Ozark Avenue

Liberty Electric preparing for remainder of utility relocation work at St. Louis Avenue

Missouri American Water working on water line between Florida Avenue and St. Louis Avenue

AT&T coordinating relocation of pole at the southeast corner of intersection at St. Louis Avenue

AT&T coordinating transfer of overhead lines to new poles

Bluebird Fiber boring new conduit

Lumen Fiber relocating fiber at Florida Avenue

Sparklight Internet coordinating transfers onto new Liberty poles as they are installed

Traffic Impacts

At least one lane of Route 66 (7th Street) OPEN in both directions

Access to all business will be maintained at all times

Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone

No signed detours

Drivers should find alternate routes around the work zone

Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule.

Project Details

The project will make improvements along the Route 66 (7th Street) corridor in Joplin between Jasper County Route P (Schifferdecker Avenue) and Loop 49 (Range Line Road).

As part of this project, the contractor will rebuild the pavement, bring sidewalks up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and upgrade and replace several traffic signals along the corridor.

This contract also includes a project to rehabilitate the Oak Street bridge over I-49 in Carthage. That project is likely to start in 2027.

Project Information

Prime Contractor: D&E Plumbing & Heating LLC, Nixa
Construction Cost: $61.6 million
Contract Completion Date: December 1, 2028