The north and southbound lanes of Interstate 29 through St. Joseph closed this morning and will reopen by 4 a.m. on Friday, July 19. Clarkson Construction Company, along with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will close the interstate to demolish the existing deck, install new beams and paint the girders of the Cook Road Bridge. During the 72-hour closure, traffic will be directed on the same signed detour onto I-229 that was used early this month. Southbound I-29 traffic must exit at I-29/I-229/U.S. Route 71 (EXIT 56B) and northbound I-29 traffic must exit at the I-229/I-29 (EXIT 43).