U.S. Route 63 in the Meramec Region

Route 63 runs north and south across the state of Missouri and carries thousands of vehicles per day. The corridor included in this study includes Osage, Maries and Phelps counties, and serves as a primary roadway connecting Jefferson City and Rolla. With the availability of additional federal and state funding, now is the time to make it fully functional for the demands of the 21st century.

2009 EIS Goals

Improve Safety
Improve Traffic Flow
Improve Corridor Continuity

What's Happening?

MoDOT is conducting a traffic and safety study with its consultant team to identify ways to improve the 47-mile stretch of Route 63, from south of the U.S. Route 50 interchange in Osage County to Rolla in Phelps County. The goal of this study is to explore specific improvements that will enhance safety and ease congestion along the corridor, while also providing improved access for businesses and communities.

In coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, the study team is currently in the process of re-evaluating the 2009 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of this area. A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) re-evaluation is necessary because existing conditions, possible solutions, potential impacts, and related mitigation measures may have changed.

The study team is currently in the process of conducting field surveys which will identify natural and archaeological resources that may be impacted by potential highway improvements.

The re-evaluation is expected to be complete in early 2024.

What is an Environmental Study Re-Evaluation?

An environmental study re-evaluation is a process to review the environmental impact categories and commitments to ensure that any recent changes to the corridor are incorporated into the document.

During the current phase of work, these are the primary objectives:

Evaluate previous preferred alternatives to determine which elements are still valid and which ones will no longer meet the needs of the corridor.
Re-evaluate potential impacts of the previously determined preferred alternatives, current conditions and related mitigation measures that may have changed.
Engage with stakeholders to provide a project status and obtain important feedback.
Prepare the project to move forward into design.

EIS Documentation

Click the links below to access 2009 Environmental Impact Study information.

2009 Executive Summary	2009 EIS Chapter 1	Appendix A - Agency Correspondence & Coordination Plan	Appendix E - Water Resources & Farmland Documentation
2009 Executive Summary Maps	2009 EIS Chapter 2	Appendix B- Public Involvement and Meetings	Appendix F - Cultural Resources
2009 EIS Index & Appendices	2009 EIS Chapter 3	Appendix C - Alternate Evaluation & Traffic Data	Appendix G - Floodplain & Wetland
	2009 EIS Chapter 4	Appendix D - Community Impact Study	Appendix H - Farmland, Parks & Hazardous Waste

U.S. Route 63 Environmental Impact Study in Osage, Maries, and Phelps

Districts Impacted