Traffic lane reopens on Mo. River bridge

Contributed graphic: Elevated tower with a serpentine ramp in Callaway County on the north side of the Missouri River will take bikers and pedestrians up to the Missouri River twin bridges. The bridge attachment ramp goes under both bridges and emerges on the east side of the eastbound lanes of the Missouri River bridges.
Contributed graphic: Elevated tower with a serpentine ramp in Callaway County on the north side of the Missouri River will take bikers and pedestrians up to the Missouri River twin bridges. The bridge attachment ramp goes under both bridges and emerges on the east side of the eastbound lanes of the Missouri River bridges.

One of three eastbound U.S. 54-63 Missouri River bridge lanes from Cole County to Callaway County reopened to traffic during the weekend.

The traffic lane was closed for almost one year to build a $6.7 million bicycle and walking bridge attachment to the Missouri River bridge.

Traffic was disrupted when the Missouri Department of Transportation erected concrete barriers and traffic cones to redirect traffic for about one year. The work zone barricades were needed to permit safe construction of the bicycle and walking bridge attachment on the east side of the Missouri River twin bridges.

Construction of a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge attachment on the bridge required narrowed lanes and speed limit reductions.

Work on the $6.7 million bicycle/pedestrian bridge attachment project on the Missouri River bridge is expected to be completed later this week.

The McCarty Street ramp in Jefferson City has reopened to traffic. But the city's Main Street ramp and the new bicycle/pedestrian bridge attachment will remain closed while crews finish work on the new construction.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the bridge attachment is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday. The event is open to the public.

To be held rain or shine, the Callaway County ceremony will be at the Missouri Department of Conservation's Carl R. Noren fishing access area on the north side of the river.

After the ceremony, the bridge attachment will be open to the public.

Bicyclists and pedestrians can enter or exit the special bridge attachment ramps from north of the Missouri River in Callaway County from a trail connecting to the Katy Trail.

The trail leads to a serpentine tower in Callaway County elevating cyclists to the bike bridge that goes under both westbound and eastbound bridges and emerges on the east side of the Missouri River bridge.

Cyclists or pedestrians also can enter or exit the bike bridge attachment at the Main Street ramp in Jefferson City serving eastbound U.S. 54-63 lanes across the river.

The bridge provides an excellent view of downtown Jefferson City, including the Missouri Capitol.

A protected guard rail "bump out" area on the bridge attachment midway on the bridge over the river will allow bikers and walkers to stop and view the Missouri Capitol or take photographs.