JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – This morning, those driving into Jefferson City on U.S. Route 54 across the Missouri River Bridge experienced significant delays. These delays can be attributed to new traffic patterns for the U.S. Route 54 bridge rehabilitations over U.S. Route 50 and McCarty Street, which began the evening of Sept. 17 and are expected to remain in place through October.
Both morning and evening commutes are expected to be congested through the end of construction. While adjustments in their commute may not be possible for all drivers, if a portion of the more than 31,000 vehicles that cross this stretch of U.S. Route 54 each day take the precautions below, the result will be impactful:
- Plan ahead and leave early or later, if possible.
- If unable to avoid the busiest commute times, plan extra time for your trip.
- Use an alternate route, if possible.
- Follow the posted speed limits as they incrementally decrease to the 35 mph posted through the work zone.
- Leave more room between vehicles than normal. As drivers experience unexpected lane shifts and ramp closures, sudden braking and too little follow distance can create rear-end crashes with a domino effect.
- Eliminate all distractions including adjusting the radio, eating, and phone calls.
- Buckle Up Phone Down.
As a reminder, the ramp closures going into effect Thursday evening for this final phase of the project are:
- Eastbound U.S. Route 54 ramp to U.S. Route 50.
- Missouri Boulevard ramp to eastbound U.S. Route 54 (currently closed and will remain closed through the end of construction).
- Westbound U.S. Route 54 to West Main Street.
All work is weather permitting and schedules are subject to change.
A webpage about this project can be found at https://www.modot.org/us-route-54-bridge-rehabilitations-over-us-route-50-and-mccarty-street-cole-county. The site includes maps outlining traffic impacts, answers to frequently asked questions and a sign-up form to receive project-specific email updates.
MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.
For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation-related matters, please visit our Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/ or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with us on social media:
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Take the Challenge! Buckle Up/Phone Down
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