JEFFERSON CITY – The new Route J/M bridge over U.S. Route 50/63 near Taos is now open.
The overpass had been closed since June 2 so the old bridge could be demolished and replaced with a new one. The new bridge opened around 5:30 p.m. yesterday.
For the most part, drivers were able to access Routes J and M during the construction, with the exception of a weekend when the 43-year-old bridge was taken down.
“We want to thank motorists for their patience while we replaced this bridge,” said Reid Riley, resident engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Central District. “We know this is a busy interchange, especially for Taos and Osage City residents, and we’re pleased to present these communities with a new bridge.”
Some minor work and clean up remains and traffic may be reduced to a single lane with a flagging operation at various times.
The opening of the new bridge is the latest transportation milestone for Jefferson City’s east side. A project to improve the intersections at Route 50/63 and Shamrock/Liberty lanes and Lisletown Road and to resurface Route 50/63 from Shamrock/Liberty Lanes to Lisletown Road is largely finished. However, some signing and guard rail work remains that might require some intermittent lane closures.
For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636), visit www.modot.org/central, or follow the Central District Facebook page at facebook.com/MoDOTCentralMissouriDistrict.
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