JEFFERSON CITY, Mo – The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking community input on expanding westbound U.S. Route 54 and reconfiguring the interchange with Callaway County Route W (Airport Road) in North Jefferson City. Public input is essential and by commenting, questioning, and providing insight during the in-person informal hearing and the three-week comment period, the community can help guide the design and construction process.
The open-house style hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, at the Jefferson City John. G. Christy Municipal Building, located at 320 E. McCarty Street in Jefferson City. Attendees may come and go as they please at any time from 4:30 to 6 p.m., as there will be no formal presentation. The project team will be on hand to answer questions, provide information, and receive input about the project. The meeting exhibits will also be made available online.
At a public meeting held in 2023, designs were presented as one project, improving both directions of U.S. Route 54 between the U.S. Route 63 interchange and the Missouri River bridges. After receiving public feedback, and due to right of way acquisition, the east and westbound expansions were split into two separate projects. Adding an additional lane of travel to eastbound U.S. Route 54 was completed in 2024.
The preliminary plans for changes to westbound U.S. Route 54 include providing southbound U.S. Route 63 with a dedicated lane onto the Missouri River bridge, eliminating the need to merge with U.S. Route 54 traffic. This requires reconfiguring the ramp from Airport Road to westbound U.S. Route 54.
In addition to the public hearing, there will be a three-week comment period running May 6 - 27. Input can be submitted online through a form on the project webpage, emailed to CDCR@modot.mo.gov, or mailed to Westbound U.S. Route 54 Expansion in Jefferson City, c/o MoDOT, 1511 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO, 65102. All comments must be received or postmarked by May 27.
More details are available about the project here: https://www.modot.org/projects/us-route-54-westbound-widening-callaway-and-cole.
MoDOT is committed to providing equal access to this event for all participants. If you need reasonable accommodations or translation services, please contact MoDOT, by Wednesday, April 30, by calling 573-522-5178 or by emailing CDCR@modot.mo.gov, so arrangements can be made.
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. Motorists are advised to use extra caution through work zones, obey all traffic signs, and avoid any distractions.
For traffic updates or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit our Traveler Information Map. Information is also available 24/7 via social media. Follow the MoDOT Central Missouri District on social media:
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