CALLAWAY COUNTY – A project to improve nine Callaway County bridges along U.S. Route 54 begins Thursday, July 20 with the rehabilitation of the westbound Route 54 bridge over Middle River. The bridge is located between Fulton and New Bloomfield, approximately six miles southwest of Fulton.
The preliminary work on the bridge, which will take place during the daytime hours, will reduce westbound Route 54 traffic over Middle River to one lane on Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21. Work during the two days involves removing and replacing the existing asphalt shoulders on the bridge.
Both lanes of westbound Route 54 over Middle River are scheduled to be reopened all day on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23.
Bridge rehabilitation work begins again the morning of Monday, July 24. At this time, westbound Route 54 traffic will be reduced to one lane around the clock in the area of the bridge. Work on the bridge is scheduled to be completed by mid-September.
Electronic message boards are installed in the area to warn motorists of the lane closure. Drivers should adjust travel times accordingly during peak travel times.
The bridge rehabilitation is part of a larger plan by the Missouri Department of Transportation to improve 12 total bridges between I-70 and New Bloomfield in Callaway County during the next 15 months.
The other bridges are:
- Route 54 eastbound over Richland Creek
- Route 54 westbound over Richland Creek
- Route 54 eastbound over the KCR Railroad
- Route 54 eastbound over Stinson Creek
- Route 54 eastbound over Business Route 54
- Route 54 eastbound over Interstate 70
- Route 54 westbound over Interstate 70
- Route 54 westbound over Hillers Creek
- Replacement of the Route H bridge over Davis Creek is ongoing and is scheduled to be completed in early August.
- Bridge deck replacement on the Route O bridge over Crows Fork Creek is underway and is scheduled to be completed by mid-September.
- Bridge deck replacement on the Route UU bridge over Crows Fork Creek has already been completed.
The bridges over Richland Creek and the KCR Railroad will get new decks. The remaining Route 54 bridges will be rehabilitated.
For project information or for info about other transportation matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit our website at www.modot.org/central. You can also follow MoDOT’s Central District on Facebook at @MoDOTCentralMissouriDistrict or on Twitter at @MoDOT_Central.