The first phase of road construction for the Missouri Route 72 Extension in Rolla is scheduled to begin on Monday and will necessitate the closing of one lane in the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 63 and a complete road closure on Ridgeview Road between U.S. Route 63 and Walker Street.

The one-lane closure on the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 63 between Black and Strohbach streets should only last a week, said Steve Hargis, Rolla Public Works director.

The northbound lanes of Highway 63 will be unaffected.

The Ridgeview Road closure will entail an additional two weeks, or just long enough to install enough additional lanes to open the road.  Ridgeview Road is actually part of the extension, which is designed for five lanes, Hargis said.

“I know it’s going to be an inconvenience for the people in the neighborhood, and we’re going to try and get it done as quickly as we can,” Hargis explained.

   Crews will be constructing three new lanes from Route 72 to an alley near Spilman Avenue as early as possible to restore access at the traffic signal to the Ridgeview area neighborhoods, Hargis said.

The most convenient route for residents attempting to drive toward downtown Rolla is to travel north on Walker Street to Kingshighway.  For people accessing Wal-Mart, they need to use the signal at the front entrance, Hargis suggested.

In order to minimize the number of disruptions on U.S. Route 63, the Walgreens’ contractor also will be doing site improvements along U.S. Route 63 for its new drug store that is under construction at the intersection of U.S. Route 63 and Ridgeview Road, Hargis explained.

This first phase of the extension’s construction will involve only the frontage of the Walgreens drug store.

The project will be completed by the City of Rolla’s Public Works Department.  Traffic control will be coordinated by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

The right of way for the portion of street adjacent to the Walgreen’s property was donated by Walgreens, and MoDOT contributed the design for this first phase of construction.

Hargis estimates a total cost of $200,000-to-$250,000 for the first phase, and it includes costs for labor, concrete pavement and curbs.  This is in addition to the Walgreens and MoDOT contributions.

The total cost of constructing the extension from U.S. Route 63 to Walker would be approximately $1 million, Hargis said.

Hargis did not know a timetable for the completion of the rest of the extension.

“We’re in the process of working with HNTB Inc. (consulting engineers) of Kansas City, to develop a master plan, go over some financing options and determine how the project might be timed,” Hargis said.