ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to take alternate routes or plan for extra time while driving on Interstate 44 in south St. Louis County this weekend as the project to remove the Big Bend Bridge will start. 

Work will begin Friday, April 8, at 6 a.m. near Crestwood and Kirkwood and crews will close the right lane in both directions on I-44, according to a press release. 

On Friday at 7 p.m., eastbound and westbound lanes will start to close with all lanes closing by 9 p.m. Big Bend over the interstate will be closed by 8 p.m. Friday.

“Traffic will be routed up and over the ramps, but drivers can expect much slower travel times through the weekend. Drivers on Big Bend will need to use alternate routes to get to I-44 during this weekend’s closure to reduce the impact to through interstate traffic. Traffic on the interstate will be able to only turn right onto Big Bend,” the press release states.

On Monday, April 11, three lanes on the interstate will reopen by 5 a.m. One lane in each direction will remain closed through August.