MILLER COUNTY - An effort to improve safety at several intersections along U.S. Route 54 near Eugene, Eldon and Lake Ozark will begin next week, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
Contractor crews will begin work on Wednesday, March 16 at the Opie/Hunter Road intersection. The following intersections are also slated for improvements in the coming months:
- Atchinson Road
- Route FF
- Business 54 (Eldon)
- Route V
- Lakeland Road
- Walnut Grove Road
- Howser Road
- Allen Road/Bear Lake Road
- Copperhead Road
- County Road 54-60, Tolwood Road
- Mount Carmel Road, Jamie Lane, and Midway Road
- Opie/Hunter Road
These locations were identified as safety risks through a road safety audit, in-depth analysis of the corridor, and a series of meetings with a local advisory group made up of local residents and leaders.
Improvements at each location include safety enhancements such as the installation of J-turns, acceleration/deceleration lanes, and new or extended turning lanes.
J-turns are an alternative to traditional roadway intersections on four-lane highways. These movements eliminate the need for drivers to cross lanes of traffic at right angles. Instead of crossing fast-moving lanes of traffic to get to opposing lanes, drivers will turn right in the same direction of traffic, merge into the left lane, and then make a U-turn in the direction they intend to travel or access intersecting roadways. These movements do mean that motorists may have to travel slightly further, but J-turns can take the same or less time than waiting for a safe and appropriate gap to cross traffic.
More information and an informational video on J-turns can be found at modot.org/j-turns.
Work will take place Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Installation of these enhancements will require individual lane closures and some intersection closures in order for construction to be completed safely. MoDOT will alert travelers and residents of specific closures ahead of time.
For more information and updates about this project, visit modot.org/Miller54Intersections.
This work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For information on other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit modot.org/central. Follow the MoDOT Central Missouri District on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter for project updates.
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