Cook Road Bridge closure to impact traffic starting Thursday

By NewsPress Now

Motorists using the Cook Road Bridge will need to find a new route for the foreseeable future with significant road work scheduled to begin Thursday.

Cook Road from 38th Street down east to the driveway entrance of Renovations Church will be closed starting Thursday, part of a large bridge rehabilitation project that is expected to last until October.

Access to and from Chris Hessler Road will also be closed during that time.

The project will see the Cook Road Bridge widened and its driving surface replaced. The city has also allocated funds to add a pedestrian sidewalk to the south side of the bridge, which will include decorative fencing and concrete sides.

During construction, Interstate 29 will be closed in both directions during three separate operations of the rehabilitation: bridge demolition, placement of girders and girder painting.

Highway drivers will see significant detours when construction occurs. Motorists will have to be detoured from I-29 onto Interstate 229. Specific dates and times for I-29 detours have not been released yet.

Overnight lane closures on I-29 below the bridge may occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. A 12-foot width restriction will be in place.

Bridge work was expected to begin Monday but had to be delayed to Thursday due to contractor scheduling.