Significant Lane Closures on I-55 and Winter Weather Alerts Impact Monday Commute

Overview of Today's Commute

Monday, February 23, 2026, presents a challenging morning for St. Louis area commuters. A combination of major long-term infrastructure projects reaching critical milestones and lingering winter weather conditions has created several bottlenecks across the region's major arteries. Drivers are advised to allow for an extra 20 to 30 minutes of travel time, particularly when traveling through the city of St. Louis and south into Jefferson County.

Major Interstate Closures and Roadworks

• Interstate 55 (St. Louis City and County): The most significant delays this morning are concentrated on I-55. Southbound traffic is restricted to a single lane from the I-44 interchange down to north of Bates Street, and further reduced to two lanes from Bates to Weber Road. For those heading northbound, expect one lane closed from Reavis Barracks to Bayless, and two lanes closed from Bayless to Virginia Avenue. These closures are part of a multi-year bridge rehabilitation program scheduled to conclude in early 2026.
• Ramp Closures: Several high-traffic ramps remain out of service. This includes the Virginia Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-55 and the southbound exit ramp to Germania Street. Commuters should utilize Broadway or Lemay Ferry Road as primary detours.
• Interstate 70 (St. Charles County): In the St. Charles region, bridge work associated with the "Improve I-70" expansion project continues. Overnight closures of all eastbound lanes at the I-64/U.S. 61 interchange have been reported this week. While lanes are expected to be open during the peak morning hours, residual congestion is likely near Wentzville.
• I-270 Chain of Rocks Bridge: Construction on the new Chain of Rocks bridge and the revamped Riverview Drive interchange continues to impact the north county loop. Currently, both the westbound exit and on-ramps at Riverview Drive are closed to facilitate interchange reconstruction.

Public Transit and Weather Impacts

Metro Transit has issued a winter weather advisory for the morning of February 23. While all MetroLink and MetroBus services are currently operating, road conditions from recent snow accumulation have caused minor delays across the bus system. Some routes may be required to transition to designated snow routes throughout the day if side roads remain untreated. Passengers are encouraged to monitor the Transit app for real-time arrival updates and to be cautious of ice at MetroLink platforms and bus stops.

Regional Freight and Jefferson County Alerts

Expansion work on the I-55 corridor in Jefferson County remains a priority zone. Between Route Z in Pevely and U.S. 67 in Festus, motorists will encounter lane shifts and narrow shoulders as crews work on replacing several of the 14 bridges slated for improvement in this $246 million project. Caution is advised near the Meramec River, where additional bridge maintenance is scheduled to ramp up this week.