Districts Impacted
U.S. ROUTE 54 OVER U.S. ROUTE 50 AND MCCARTY STREET BRIDGE REHABILITATION IN JEFFERSON CITY
Rehabilitation work on the U.S. Route 54 overpass bridges over U.S. Route 50 (locally known as the tri-level) and McCarty Street will include joint and deck repairs and a concrete overlay. Once the rehabilitation is complete, motorists will have a smoother surface on which to travel with an extended lifespan.
U.S. Route 54 will remain open, but starting July 15 will narrow to one lane in each direction on the half-mile section between the Missouri River and Business Route 50 (Missouri Boulevard) for up to 90 days. Incentives are built in if the contractor is able to restore two lanes in each direction earlier.
Construction Map: Traffic Shift - Phase 1
Navigating the Phase 1 Work Zone: Click to Play
View these construction maps with contrasting colors (blue and orange) here: https://www.modot.org/graphics-us-route-54-bridge-rehabs-cole-county-over-mccarty-street-and-us-route-50
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is MoDOT rehabilitating the bridges?
Both overpass bridges – U.S. Route 54 over U.S. Route 50 and McCarty Street – were built in 1964. To extend the lifespan of both bridges, joint and deck repairs are needed, and a thin concrete overlay will be applied.
How will the bridge work affect traffic?
U.S. Route 54 will remain open.
All lanes on the Missouri River bridges are expected to remain open.
Some ramp closures south of the Missouri River bridges may be necessary during the first traffic shift (westbound bridge rehabilitation) and will be necessary during the second traffic shift (eastbound bridge rehabilitation).
The contractor, working with MoDOT, will narrow a half-mile section of U.S. Route 54 in Jefferson City (just south of the Missouri River bridge to just north of Missouri Boulevard) to one lane in each direction for up to 90 calendar days. A concrete barrier separating the head-to-head traffic will be in place. Loads wider than 15 feet will not be permitted and a speed reduction will be imposed through the work zone.
Do you expect traffic delays?
Yes. This stretch of U.S. Route 54 carries more than 31,000 vehicles on an average day. Significant delays are expected in both directions during weekday morning and evening rush, and on Friday afternoons and Sundays as travelers go back and forth to the Lake of the Ozarks region.
Why is construction occurring now, during the summer travel season?
Much of the necessary work is temperature and weather sensitive and cannot be performed in colder months.
Are there alternate routes?
Yes, for those traveling to/from the Lake of the Ozarks region. However, those routes will vary - based on your starting point and destination. If you'd like help finding an alternate route, you can consult our Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org or call our 24/7 Customer Service line at 888 ASK MODOT (888-275-6636).
Click here for a MAP of some of the options for an alternate route.
What do you recommend for commuters to/from Jefferson City?
For travelers who drive this short section of U.S. Route 54 as part of their daily commute, avoiding peak travel times and planning for extra travel time will be the best course of action. Check the Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org for current and future roadwork, including ramp closures associated with this and nearby projects, that may impact your commute, as well.
Why can't you do the work at night and reopen all lanes during the day?
Because the joint repair and bridge deck repair work is so close to the line dividing the two lanes of traffic - between the driving lane and passing lane - traffic will need to shift off the bridge being repaired - which will keep U.S. Route 54 open through Jefferson City.
Shifting traffic around-the-clock allows the contractor to work more safely, more quickly, and vary work between daytime and nighttime hours, depending on the type of work being performed.
What is a 'zipper' merge?
To reduce congestion, drivers are encouraged to use both lanes to the point where one lane closes, then use a zipper merge – alternating vehicles merging to a single lane of traffic. Research shows traffic moves more smoothly when motorists use both lanes until reaching the defined merge area and then alternate merging every other vehicle in "zipper" fashion into the open lane.
By using both full lanes of traffic until the merge point, you reduce the difference in speed between the two lanes and the length of backups is reduced 40-50 percent. Click here to watch a video of the zipper merge in action. For more information on safe merging, visit www.modot.org/zipper-merge.
Who can I contact with further questions?
You may email cdcr@modot.mo.gov or call us at 888 ASK MODOT (1-888-275-6636). Please reference U.S. Route 54 Over U.S. Route 50/McCarty Street Bridge Rehabilitations on your inquiries.
How can I stay updated on the project’s progress?
Sign up for project-specific updates using the form below.
Project News Releases
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Alternate routes encouraged for travelers headed to Lake of the Ozarks during Route 54 bridge work
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Starting at 7 p.m. on July 15, a half-mile section of U.S. Route 54 in Jefferson City, south of the Missouri River, will narrow to one lane in each direction. This traffic shift for bridge rehabilitation work is expected to...
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U.S. Route 54 traffic shift begin south of the Missouri River July 15
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The project to repair and overlay the U.S. Route 54 overpasses over U.S. Route 50 and McCarty Street in Jefferson City is set to start July 8. Beginning July 15, lanes on Route 54 will be reduced to one lane each direction. ...
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U.S. Route 54 to remain open during bridge rehabilitation project
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor, Concrete Strategies, LLC, are working to secure the necessary clearances to begin the rehabilitation of two overpass bridges along a vital corridor in Jefferson City...
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U.S. Route 54 in Jefferson City lanes reduced for bridge work over U.S. Route 50
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Significant travel delays are expected on U.S. Route 54 in Jefferson City beginning later this month. When the bridge rehabilitation project begins, Route 54 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction between the Missouri...
Project Progress
The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractors designed improvements to extend the life of the bridges, including joint and deck repairs and a concrete overlay.
As part of their February 2024 meeting, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $3,309,174.67 contract for this work to Concrete Strategies, LLC. (The total contract award cost includes rehabilitation work on Route B over the Moreau River near Wardsville.)
At the time of the award, the contractor was given a March 11, 2024, notice to proceed date - the earliest date they could begin work - and a Dec. 1, 2024, completion date.
Some of the rehabilitation work will be completed underneath both overpasses with no impact to traffic on U.S. Route 54. Construction crews will use overnight, single-lane closures on U.S. Route 50 and McCarty Street the week of July 8, prior to the traffic shift.
Starting July 15, the half-mile stretch of U.S. Route 54 from just south of the Missouri River bridges to Business U.S. 50 (Missouri Boulevard) was reduced to one lane in each direction.
U.S. Route 54 is open, but narrowed to one lane in each direction with a concrete barrier separating the head-to-head traffic. The speed limit is reduced to 35 miles per hour through the work zone. A 10-foot width restriction is in place for eastbound U.S. Route 54 and a 15-foot width restriction for westbound traffic.
All work will be completed in two phases within a period of 90 calendar days:
- During the first phase of work, all ramps to/from U.S. Route 54 are expected to remain open, but ramp availability is subject to change.
- During the second phase of work, some ramps will be restricted or closed, including the ramp to West Main Street and the eastbound U.S. Route 54 ramp to U.S. Route 50.
This stretch of Route 54 carries more than 31,000 vehicles on an average day. Significant delays are expected in both directions during weekday morning and evening rush, and on Friday and Sunday afternoons as travel to/from the Lake of the Ozarks region could increase congestion.
The contractor has 90 calendar days after the first traffic shift to reopen the bridges to two lanes of traffic in each direction, with incentives in the contract if they're able to do so sooner than 90 days.
There will be additional work before and after the traffic shifts, but they will have little to no impact on traffic. All work on this project is expected to be completed in 120 days.
PROJECT COORDINATION
This project on U.S. Route 54 over U.S. Route 50 and McCarty Street is administered under the same contract as the bridge rehabilitation on Cole County Route B over the Moreau River near Wardsville. The cost of the contract includes this Route B bridge rehab.
Other improvements to U.S. Route 54 in the vicinity include washing the bridges over the Missouri River (complete), widening the eastbound traveled way (in progress), pavement improvements (in progress), and rehabilitation work on several bridges north of the river (in progress).