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 narrowed to one lane in each direction on the half-mile section between the Missouri River and Business Route 50 (Missouri Boulevard). Traffic is expected to return to normal week of Nov. 4.
Construction Map: Traffic Shift - Phase 2
Navigating the Phase 2 Work Zone: Click to Play
The transition to the final phase of construction began Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Over the course of several days, constructions crews relocated barriers to shift all traffic onto the newly rehabilitated westbound lanes to allow for work on the eastbound overpass bridges. Several ramps are closed through the first week of November:
- Eastbound U.S. Route 54 ramp to U.S. Route 50.
- Missouri Boulevard ramp to eastbound U.S. Route 54.
- Westbound U.S. Route 54 to West Main Street.
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.
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 the duration of construction. A concrete barrier separating the head-to-head traffic will be in place. Loads wider than 12 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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Traffic shift planned next week on U.S. Route 54 in Jefferson City
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Bridge work on U.S. Route 54 in Jefferson City, between the Missouri River Bridge and Missouri Boulevard, has required traffic to be in a head-to-head configuration since mid-July as contractors working with the Missouri...
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U.S. Route 54 bridge work to progress to final phase tonight
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The transition to the final phase of construction on the U.S. Route 54 overpasses over U.S. Route 50 and McCarty Street in Jefferson City will begin tonight at 7 p.m. Over the course of several days, construction crews will...
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U.S. Route 54 bridge rehabilitation project scheduled to move to final phase of construction
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Significant progress on the rehabilitation of the U.S. Route 54 overpasses over U.S. Route 50 and McCarty Street in Jefferson City means the second and final phase is about to begin, and that will bring changes to the traffic...
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Ramp from Missouri Boulevard to eastbound U.S. Route 54 now closed
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – With an abundance of caution for the safety of the traveling public, the ramp from Business U.S. 50 (Missouri Boulevard) to eastbound U.S. Route 54 is now closed. Motorists should use northbound U.S. Route 50/63 (Whitton...
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:
- During the first phase of work (current), on Aug. 1 the ramp from Missouri Boulevard to eastbound U.S. Route 54 closed - and will remain closed for the remainder of the project
- During the second phase of work, some ramps will be restricted or closed, including the ramp to West Main Street, Missouri Boulevard ramp to eastbound U.S. Route 54 ,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.
Construction is expected to wrap up and traffic return to normal the week of Nov. 4.
Originally planned to end in mid-October, the joint deterioration on both the west and eastbound bridges were more extensive than anticipated and required additional work and time.
The deterioration is likely caused by weather, water, and salt that collected near this area and caused the steel to corrode.
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).