34/72 widening project in Jackson to close section of Farmington Road

Farmington Road at the intersection of West Jackson Boulevard will be closed beginning today as work continues on the Highway 34/72 widening project in Jackson.

Farmington is a fairly busy residential street that many residents use to cut over from Highway 34/72 to Main Street or Route D.

Paul Koeper, vice president of Penzel Construction, said the intersection will be closed for roughly two weeks.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma Street near the high school will reopen soon, probably either today or Tuesday, Koeper said. Workers will pour asphalt there, although the final layer of smooth asphalt won't be poured until the near completion of the first phase.

Workers will begin setting the beams on the Hubble Creek bridge on Friday or Monday. Koeper said the south side of the bridge could be finished as soon as the end of June.

The work is part of Phase I of a 3 1/2-mile three-phase project that will widen 34/72 from Highway 25 to the 34/72 junction outside of Jackson. The first phase is from Highway 25 to Main Street.

The estimated completion date for Phase I was originally Dec. 15. There were some utility relocation issues at the beginning of the project that may push back the completion date, but Koeper says he's still aiming to have the first phase done by Dec. 15.

Koeper said 95 percent of the stormwater drains have been constructed and now workers are beginning on curbs and gutters.

"We just ask people who drive through to slow down because our workers are working closer to the road now," he said. "When cars aren't backed up, it's not a problem, but when traffic isn't backed up, they come through here 40 or 50 miles per hour."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635