Smithville Road Closures And Detours Expected From T-DOT Project

Motorists on South Congress Boulevard can expect lane closures next week at the intersection of East Bryant Street as the contractor on the highway construction project cuts through the pavement to install pipes across the road.

The work is planned for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 20, 21, & 22 at the traffic light at East Bryant and South Congress Boulevard near Ace Hardware and Walgreens. Traffic may be held up for short periods or diverted while the work is underway. Motorists may wish to take an alternate route while the project is in progress.

Meanwhile traffic has been shifted onto the detour between SR-288 and Old Blue Springs Road for the contractor to complete grade work in the area. Flaggers may be present to move equipment across roadway, unload equipment, or complete utility work. Traffic shifts in Smithville will remain from Vaughn Lane to the end of the project to allow the contractor to complete work. There is a temporary diversion for Ferrell Road, and one remains in place for Williams Road to allow the contractor to construct a new alignment. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone.

Motorists should use caution in this area and watch for flaggers and construction equipment.

The contractor, Jones Brothers Contractors is also continuing construction of bridges and paving from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line (LM 24.5) to East Bryant St. (LM 2.9) and is installing concrete box culverts and drainage structures. Grade work, bridge work, paving operations, and utility work on the new roadway alignment are ongoing.

TDOT opened bids in June 2019 and Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC was the low bidder on the construction project at $43,691,948 which will be done in two phases from south of state highway 288 near Magness Road to East Bryant Street in Smithville and from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line to near Magness Road in DeKalb County. A proposed third segment from near State Route 287 in Warren County to near the DeKalb County Line is not yet ready for bid letting.

The state plans to build largely two lanes of a proposed four lane project and maintain traffic on the existing Highway 56 (alignment) while construction is done on the new portion.

The estimated completion date for the two phases is May 31, 2022.