Stormwater work to close Murphy Boulevard south of 7th Street

(From the City of Joplin)

Stormwater construction along Illinois Avenue will cause a closure traffic on Murphy Boulevard near 9th Street starting Tuesday, July 28. This section of Murphy Boulevard creates a merge onto Illinois Avenue for northbound travelers and allows southbound drivers access to Campbell Parkway.

This closure will be in place through Monday, August 3 as the City’s contractor Branco Enterprises continues work on the stormwater improvements along Illinois Avenue. Traffic will be detoured during this time. Drivers may want to choose alternative routes due to possible delays.

The project started in 2019 to improve the movement of stormwater moving through the area and reduce flooding possibilities of roadways and properties after rain events. It has included installation of concrete inlets on both east and west sides of Illinois Avenue for efficient water flow under and near roadway and in the Ewert Park. Sidewalk installation has also been part of the project.

With the stormwater improvements north and south of 7th street nearing completion, crews will soon need to tie the stormwater improvements together which will create a closure of 7th Street. The City is working with Missouri Department of Transportation and will have a two-week closure of 7th Street at Illinois Avenue, starting on August 24. More information and detour routes will be announced in the near future about this closure.

The project is funded through the Parks and Stormwater Sales Tax, which voters renewed in 2011.

For questions, please contact Public Works at 417-624-0820, ext. 531.