The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader reports that reconstruction on Interstate 44 between mile markers 135 and 145 on Interstate 44 east of Lebanon will begin in earnest Wednesday afternoon.
This is on top of delays on I-44 in St. Louis County and Franklin County. Motorists crossing Missouri have seen delays of up to one hour.
Of course, there is a detour:
"A lot of our travel is on old Route 66 right now, if it's daylight," Brian Russell said, referring to the historic highway that once connected Chicago and Los Angeles.
Portions of the decommissioned highway — now a state scenic byway — run parallel to I-44, allowing canny motorists to detour around problems on the interstate.
Travel is not always as swift, he said. "But you at least feel like you're getting somewhere."