Tag Archives: replacement

Vernon County Route BB bridge to close for replacement

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VERNON COUNTY, Mo. – MoDOT will close the Vernon County Route BB bridge over Moore Branch south of Nevada, Missouri during a replacement project. Officials say the bridge will be close for up to 90 days beginning the week of March 22.

Contractor crews will replace the old bridge with a new structure as well as installing new guardrail at the ends of the bridge.

Traffic impacts:

  • All lanes of Route BB CLOSED over Moore Branch for up to 90 days
  • Drivers will be able to access entrances on either side of the bridge, but will not be able to travel through the work zone
  • No signed detour
  • Drivers urged to find alternate routes around work zone
  • Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone

This bridge is included in Gov. Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state. Route BB Bridge project cost a of $1.9 million.

Part of I-49 to close during concrete replacement project

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JASPER COUNTY, Mo. – Segments of I-49 will close to traffic beginning on April 5 while MoDOT replaces the concrete pavement between I-44 and a point south of Jasper County Route FF (32nd Street) in Joplin. The closing could last for up to 16 days.

Contractor crews will remove and replace 1.4 miles of concrete pavement beginning in the southbound lanes. Both lanes of traffic will be closed in each direction ’round the clock. When that work is complete, the southbound lanes will be reopened to traffic and crews will move to the northbound lanes. Both northbound lanes will be closed ‘round the clock.

Traffic Impacts:

  • Phase 1:
    • All lanes of southbound I-49 CLOSED ’round the clock for up to 16 days for pavement replacement
    • All lanes of northbound I-49 open
  • Phase 2:
    • All lanes of northbound I-49 CLOSED ‘round the clock for up to 16 days for pavement replacement
    • All lanes of southbound I-49 open
  • Route FF (32nd Street) ramps will be CLOSED in the direction of the work being done
  • Expect increased travel times
  • Drivers will be directed to signed detour using Business Loop 49, I-44 and Missouri Route 59

Couple gets same life-saving heart procedure in less than a year

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JOPLIN, Mo. –  With valentine’s day approaching this weekend, couples everywhere will be opening their hearts to one another. But one area couple is sharing the story of both of them getting a life saving heart procedure over the past eight months.

Charles and Lorena Sweeney got married more than 50 years ago. In June, Lorena needed a transcatheter aortic valve replacement; then in October so did Charles.

Freeman Health System performed both surgeries and says the procedure is done while the heart remains pumping, eliminating the need for a heart lung machine.

Lorena says she and Charles are back to their old selves.

“I feel great I can do I can do. I still work part usually once a week. I play the piano and organ at the church. I teach a Sunday school lesson, and I’m very active,” said Lorena.

“The success stories where people are unable to walk and then suddenly they are back to their 2 mile walk or they are out mowing their grass that is very gratifying,” says Freeman doctor John Cox.

February is also American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health.