Drivers using U.S. 60 from Butler County to New Madrid County can expect a few delays later this summer as contractors smooth out the road surface along several stretches of the highway.

Work will take place on 6.8 miles of the westbound lanes from Highway 67 to Route T in Butler County; 10 miles of the westbound lanes from Route DD to Route F and 5.9 miles of the eastbound lanes from Route F to just east of Dexter in Stoddard County; and 9.2 miles of eastbound lanes from the Stoddard County line to Interstate 55 in Scott and New Madrid counties.

MoDOT resident engineer Brian Holt said the work is resurfacing the shoulders and diamond grinding the road surface to make a smoother ride.

"This is something that can be ground and give us a few more years," Holt said.

Holt said lane reductions won't be in place along each stretch of repaired road at the same time, but a few stretches of lane reductions could be present during workdays.

Work will be performed in five-mile increments. Holt said it takes about four days to diamond grind five miles of road surface.

The $2,480,493 project was awarded earlier this week, so it's not clear yet which stretches will be worked on first. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2007.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182