CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. – Work to improve U.S. Route 54 in Camden and Hickory Counties will begin on Monday, March 27. Contractors for the Missouri Department of Transportation will resurface 25 miles of roadway and replace guardrail between the Niangua River Bridge in Camden County and Route D in Hickory County.
The work will also include turning the section of roadway between the Niangua River and Route 73 in Camden County into a shared four-lane highway, meaning the existing conventional two-way highway will be converted into alternating passing lanes. The passing lanes provide motorists with periodic opportunities to pass other vehicles without having to drive in the opposing lane.
“The shared-four lane project is part of a continuing effort to ease traffic congestion and improve safety along the Route 54 corridor,” said Central District Engineer David Silvester. “The design is similar to the shared four lane along Route 5 between Camdenton and Lebanon that was completed in 2011.”
Periodic lane closures are expected on Route 54 during the work, which is scheduled for completion on Nov. 1. Flag crews and pilot cars will guide motorists through the work zone during these closures.
Pilot cars help motorists safely navigate through work zones that might include equipment crossings, difficult crossroads, lane changes or other obstacles. At each end of the work zone, a flagger will stop traffic until the pilot car is ready to lead vehicles through the work area. The pilot car will then guide vehicles safely through the work zone and will pull off the road at the end of the work zone to allow the travelers to continue on their way. The car will then repeat the process, traveling in the other direction.
For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central. You can also follow MoDOT Central District on Twitter (@MoDOT_Central) or Facebook (Facebook.com/MoDOTCentralMissouriDistrict) for project updates and other transportation-related news.