City begins work on signal upgrade project

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- An intersection along Mitchell Avenue will be closed starting next week for a signal upgrade project.

Starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, Mitchell Avenue will be closed on both sides of 22nd Street, as the entire outdated signal system is being replaced with mast-arm poles.

Traffic on Mitchell Avenue will be rerouted along the following detours:

• Westbound through traffic will detour from Mitchell north onto 26th Street to Messanie Street and then west along Messanie to 20th Street and south back to Mitchell. Drivers will be able to access 22nd Street at Messanie.
• Eastbound traffic will detour from Mitchell north onto 20th Street and then east to Olive Street to 26th Street and south back to Mitchell. Drivers will be able to access 22nd Street at Olive.

While 22nd Street will remain open, the speed limit within the construction zone will be reduced to 15 miles per hour.

Work will include new bases, poles, mast arms and signal heads on all four corners. ADA curb corners will also be constructed.

A large cottonwood tree will also be removed, and the sidewalk it has damaged will be repaired.

The project, expected to be completed by mid-December, weather permitting, will cost approximately $350,000.

This project is the last of five signal upgrade projects the city has undertaken to replace old wire-hanging devices. Replacements have been completed at the intersections of Cook Road and Walmart Drive, 22nd Street and Frederick Avenue and Middleton Street and St. Joseph Avenue.

Work is wrapping up on the fourth project at St. Joseph and Grand Avenues.