With two bridges already closed this summer on busy highways in Callaway County - on Routes H and O - getting around is about to get even harder.
Work is about to begin on nine other bridges, all along U.S. 54 between Interstate 70 and New Bloomfield. The Missouri Department of Transportation has developed a webpage about the $7.3 million project.
The 15-month project began last Thursday with the rehabilitation of the westbound U.S. 54 bridge over Middle River, about six miles southwest of Fulton. Motorists will begin experiencing an around-the-clock, single-lane closure on westbound U.S. 54 on Monday at this bridge. One lane will be open at all times during the work. The closure will remain in place until work is completed in mid-September.
In addition to the bridge improvements, the project will also include safety improvements to the U.S. 54 corridor. Contractors working for MoDOT will install guard cable along sections of the highway from the Missouri River Bridge in Jefferson City to I-70 in Kingdom City. The guard cables will increase safety and will help reduce crossover collisions along these areas of U.S. 54.
The nine bridges are:
- U.S. 54 westbound over Middle River
- U.S. 54 eastbound over Richland Creek
- U.S. 54 westbound over Richland Creek
- U.S. 54 eastbound over the KCR Railroad
- U.S. 54 eastbound over Stinson Creek
- U.S. 54 eastbound over Business Route 54
- U.S. 54 eastbound over Interstate 70
- U.S. 54 westbound over Interstate 70
- U.S. 54 westbound over Hillers Creek
The bridges over Richland Creek and the KCR Railroad will get new decks. The remaining bridges will be rehabilitated.
The webpage includes a general project overview, information about current bridge work, location maps, future construction schedules, as well as the ability to sign up for periodic email updates about the project. This page will also serve as an information hub to give motorists advance notice of any major traffic impacts that could potentially affect travel.
The webpage is MoDOT.org/Central/Route54CallawayBridges.htm. A link to the U.S. 54 Bridge Improvements webpage is also located on MoDOT's Central District website at modot.org/central.