Nearby businesses react to new date for Sunshine Street bridge closure

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced that the portion of Sunshine Street over the MNA Railroad between Scenic Avenue and Kansas Expressway will be closing at 6 a.m. on Sunday, August 4.

Crews will replace the bridge and make improvements to pedestrian facilities from Scenic Avenue to Marion Avenue.

The project is expected to last around 4 months and will cost an estimated $5.9 million dollars.

"It's good to hear that they've finally got a new date back in place," says JT Thomas, who owns Wherehouse Bar located near the bridge.

After the project missed its original March 17, Thomas hopes the new timeline is final.

"We've really gone back and forth a number of times," he says. "And, you know, we've really come to the point where we just want to get it started and get it over with."

Thomas tells me while the road closure may have an effect on his business, it's small compared to the long-term benefits of the project.

"It's going to include new sidewalks, wide sidewalks. People that live on the other side of the bridge, especially all the apartments to the south, Sunshine Street will have a pretty easy and safe access whether they walk or ride your bicycle," he says. "So, I think that'll definitely help, especially this next summer after the bridge project is complete."

Gene Mygrants, owner of Bento Box, also operates his business near the bridge and says he and other neighboring businesses are against the road closure that comes with the project, as it will hurt their businesses.

"We don't want it but, I mean, there's really not a whole lot we can do about it," says Mygrants. "But we are still sticking together and saying we don't want it."

When asked if he was considering moving his business to another location, Mygrants says he currently has no plans to do so but is looking at every option.

"I don't want to but, at the same time, business is going to determine what we're going to do. If business gets that bad, then we may have to."

MoDOT says drivers will be able to detour on James River Freeway, Kansas Expressway, Chestnut Expressway, and US 160 during the closure.

For more information about the project, please visit MoDOT’s website.