JEFFERSON CITY - An open-house public meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8 to gather input about plans to construct a new diamond interchange on Route 179 between Route C and Edgewood Drive in Jefferson City.  The interchange will provide access to a new St. Mary's Health Center development at this location.

The public meeting will be held from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Eagles Club located at 1411 Missouri Blvd. in Jefferson City.  The public may attend the open-house meeting at any time during the advertised hours to learn about the project and share comments with members of the project team.  No formal presentations will be made.  Displays and project information presented at the public meeting will be available at www.modot.org/central the day after the meeting.

The construction of a new interchange will cost approximately $7 million and is a joint effort between MoDOT, the City of Jefferson and Cole County.  A $2.5 million access road to the new St. Mary's Health Center is included in the project and will be funded by the city and county.

Right of way and easements are needed.  Work on the interchange and access road will begin in mid 2011 and take just over one year to complete.

Representatives from St. Mary's will also be in attendance at the public meeting to provide information about the new $200 million health care facility.

For more information about this project or the upcoming public meeting, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log onto www.modot.org/central.