RICHMOND HEIGHTS – The hand-wringing over the simultaneous closure of Hanley Road and Big Bend Boulevard at Highway 40 (Interstate 64) is about to end.

The Hanley overpass is scheduled to reopen Friday before evening rush hour, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced Friday. The reopening will come one month ahead of schedule.

"We have been very concerned about the overlap in having Hanley and Big Bend both closed," Linda Wilson, MoDOT spokeswoman, said. Though the closure hasn't affected anyone outside of Central St. Louis County, "There are plenty of motorists out there and residents in Richmond Heights who would tell you it's been terrible."

When the overpass closed on Dec. 29, it sent about 50,000 motorists a day to Brentwood Boulevard, Interstate 170 and Big Bend. And then the Big Bend overpass closed on June 1 making it even more of a headache to travel north and south across the highway.

"I have to go way out of my way to go anywhere," said Michelle Hill of Maplewood.

When the Hanley overpass reopens, work will begin immediately on the jug handle interchange at Hanley and Eager roads, just south of the overpass. As a result, a portion of Eager Road will close. Those needing to get from Eager to Hanley, and vice versa, will need to turn onto Meridian, behind the shopping complex that includes Best Buy and across from Dale Avenue.

The interchange is scheduled to be completed in three months. The work is part of the $535 million effort to rebuild Highway 40.

Also, MoDOT officials announced Friday that the Oakland Avenue overpass at Highway 40 will reopen on Monday, Aug. 3, after the morning commute. At the same time, the Clayton Avenue overpass will close for demolition and remain closed for at least five months.