Bridge switch starts tonight

Vehicles travel onto the Missouri River bridge carrying eastbound U.S. 54 and northbound U.S. 63 traffic in Jefferson City on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016.
Vehicles travel onto the Missouri River bridge carrying eastbound U.S. 54 and northbound U.S. 63 traffic in Jefferson City on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016.

Work to switch traffic on the westbound U.S.54/63 bridge over the Missouri River in Jefferson City to the eastbound bridge so the westbound structure can be painted will begin at 7 p.m. today.

The full closure of the westbound bridge is expected before rush hour either Monday or Tuesday, depending on weather conditions.

Here's what drivers can expect leading up to the closure, weather permitting:

The first stage of the traffic switch will start at 7 p.m. today. That work will include finishing the crossover that will divert westbound traffic on to the eastbound bridge and placing the concrete barriers on the eastbound bridge that will separate eastbound and westbound traffic.

When stage one is complete, sometime before 7 a.m. Saturday, eastbound bridge traffic will be limited to using the two far left lanes. At that time, the contractor will suspend operations to allow for freer traffic flow.

Work will resume at 7 p.m. Saturday, when eastbound bridge traffic will be reduced to one lane - the far right lane. Work on switching traffic to the full detour will continue until completed either Monday or Tuesday.

"It's difficult to predict the exact time the final switch will take place, especially given the rain in the forecast, but drivers should be prepared to be using only one bridge by early next week," said Patty Lemongelli, construction and materials engineer for MoDOT's Central District. "The first day of the closure will be the real test, and we'll be monitoring traffic flow, as well as traffic signals on surrounding city streets and state highways to ensure traffic is moving as smoothly as possible."

Still, Lemongelli said motorists should be prepared for delays on the bridge, especially during peak travel times, throughout the duration of the four-month closure.

In addition to the bridge closure, the following access ramps will be closed:

All access ramps from U.S. 54/63 to and from West Main Street

The eastbound on-ramp from McCarty Street to U.S. 54/63

The westbound on-ramp from Route W to U.S. 54/63.

"We expect the first week to be the most difficult," Lemongelli said. "After that, we're hopeful drivers will get used to the traffic changes and figure out the drive times and routes that work best for them."

When all is said and done, Lemongelli said, the number of through lanes carrying U.S. 54 and 63 will remain the same at two. The third lane dropped as a result of closing the westbound bridge is actually the lane for the Route W on-ramp.

MoDOT officials are also reminding motorists about the Steer It and Clear It law requiring motorists involved in minor, non-injury traffic crashes to move their vehicles onto the shoulder or other safe location nearby when safely possible.

MoDOT officials are also reminding motorists about several tools available to help them be better prepared for the bridge closure:

Traveler Information Map - located at modot.org, the map provides a variety of tools to help drivers see current traffic conditions on the bridge, including incidents, real-time traffic flow and traffic cameras.

Incidents - Vehicle crashes and other incidents are noted on the map, which will inform drivers the road is closed, to expect delays or that delays are possible.

Real-time traffic flow - The map also shows real-time traffic flow, with green showing traffic is moving normally, yellow indicating traffic is moving at a medium rate and red meaning traffic is moving slowly.

Traffic cameras - There are four traffic cameras on the map to provide a view of traffic on and near the bridges. The cameras are located on the east and west sides of the bridges, at the U.S. 50/Missouri Boulevard interchange and at Missouri Boulevard west of Stadium.

Text alerts - Those wanting to receive text alerts regarding the bridge project can sign up at modot.org/eupdate. The Missouri River Bridge option is located under the Central District heading.

Email updates " MoDOT will provide periodic updates on the project's progress to email subscribers. Visit modot.org/central to sign up for this option.

Carpooling links - MoDOT's website offers links to carpooling resources to help link people who want to carpool. For more information, visit modot.org/services/carpools/CarpoolConnections.htm.

24-hour toll-free number - MoDOT's toll-free number, 888-275-6636, is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Callers can speak with a customer service representative to get the latest traffic information.

Project website - Information about the project is updated regularly and can be found at modot.org/central.

The bridge will be closed for painting and repairs for about four months.