Overland Park, KS - Drivers of Quivira Road, and even I-435, need to take heed.

On Wednesday, Feb. 29, construction crews will begin shifting northbound Quivira traffic over to the southbound lanes to replace the northbound bridge.

There will be two through lanes in each direction. However, there will be no access onto I-435 from either direction. Off-ramps from I-435 onto Quivira will remain open, including access to the Overland Park Regional Medical Center and businesses in the area.

The changeover is expected to be complete on Thursday, March 1. In July, all directions of Quivira traffic will move to the northbound lanes. Again, I-435 on-ramp access will be closed.

Replacement work on the three bridge sections serving north and southbound lanes, and median traffic in the turn lanes, is expected to be complete in early November, when regular traffic access will resume.

Demolition work on the northbound bridge will commence at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3, weather permitting. This requires that I-435 traffic in all directions will be closed at 8 p.m. I-435 is expected to reopen no later than 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4.

Construction crews are putting down several feet of dirt and sand below the bridge to protect I-435 and expedite debris removal. Explosives will be used on bridge columns to bring them down onto the highway.

Alternate suggested routes for eastbound I-435 include going north on I-35 to 87th Street, east to U.S. 69, south to I-435 and then east. Westbound I-435 traffic should go north on U.S. 69 to 87th Street, west to I-35, south on I-35 to westbound I-435.

During demolition, traffic on Quivira at the bridge will be closed 20 minutes prior to demolition and reopened 20 minutes after demolition.

Quivira, from essentially 97th Street south to 119th Street, will be undergoing road construction at various times during this year. All of it will be completed by the end of 2012.

Quivira is being widened from four to six lanes from 99th Street to I-435 and from College to 119th Street.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is the project administrator for the bridge demolition and new Quivira interchange.