The Lemay Ferry Road Bridge over Interstate 255 will not be closed to traffic until late April, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

MoDOT and its contractor for the project, also have determined that the bridge only will be closed for about four months.

“This is great news for the south county area,” MoDOT Area Engineer Tom Blair stated in a news release. “We were originally looking at having the bridge closed for up to 10 months, but the contractor is committed to getting the bridge open within four months.”

Blair said the contractor would receive a monetary incentive if the bridge is opened ahead of schedule and a penalty if it is not.

Lemay Ferry Road will be closed to all traffic between South County Centerway and Forder Road. While Lemay Ferry Road is closed, traffic will be detoured to Interstate 55 via either Butler Hill Road — to access Lemay Ferry Road south of I-255 or Lindbergh Boulevard — to access Lemay Ferry Road north of I-255.

The project includes replacing the bridge and adding 10-foot outside shoulders and a protected pedestrian walkway. Work also includes earthquake-strengthening work and the addition of a northbound lane between Forder and the northbound Interstate 270 entrance ramp. The $5.7 million project will begin in late April and is expected to be complete by August.