Kansas City, Missouri I

The Blue Ridge Boulevard Bridge closed Wednesday morning ahead of the weekend's scheduled demolition

The Blue Ridge Boulevard Bridge closed Wednesday morning ahead of the weekend's scheduled demolition

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The Blue Ridge Boulevard Bridge closed Wednesday morning ahead of the weekend's scheduled demolition

A busy stretch of Interstate 70 will close in Kansas City, Missouri, over the weekend as crews work to demolish a bridge over the roadway.

The Blue Ridge Boulevard Bridge saw its last traffic Wednesday morning. Crews have now blocked access to the roadway in that area as they now work to prepare it for demolition this weekend.

As a result, both directions of I-70 will be closed on the eastern side of Kansas City on Saturday and Sunday.

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Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation said the interstate will close in the early morning hours Saturday and will remain closed until around 5 a.m. Monday.

If the Blue Ridge Boulevard bridge is part of your daily commute, you'll need to find a detour until mid-November at the earliest, which is when the new bridge is scheduled to open.

Officials said the closure will disrupt how many people drive through Kansas City. The best advice: Plan your detour now.

For the short-term interstate closure over the weekend, crews will close eastbound I-70 between I-435 and Noland Road. All eastbound traffic will be diverted to southbound I-435, then onto eastbound I-470. Motorists can pick I-70 back up at MO-291 in Independence.

Westbound traffic will be diverted in the opposite direction onto MO-291, following I-470/291 around and picking up northbound I-435 before merging back onto westbound I-70.

In addition to the main interstation closure, MoDOT crews will also close the following ramps:

For the long-term bridge closure, officials said all southbound Blue Ridge Boulevard traffic will be diverted to eastbound U.S. 40 Highway to Noland Road.

Northbound Blue Ridge Boulevard traffic will be sent to westbound 43rd Street and into Sterling Avenue.

MoDOT said the Kansas City Royals have a homestand against the Colorado Rockies over the weekend during this planned closure. Motorists heading out to Kauffman Stadium should use alternate routes like I-470 and I-435. Fans coming eastbound on I-70 can exit at Manchester Trafficway and use Stadium Drive to get to Kauffman.