Traffic shift set to begin on Highway 54 in Jefferson City Monday night

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A traffic shift is expected to start Monday on Highway 54 in Jefferson City.

The highway is set to be reduced to one lane in each direction at 7 p.m. The reduction to one lane will be limited to 10 feet on the eastbound lane and the westbound lane will be extended to 15 feet wide.

District Engineer Machelle Watkins says "it’s important for motorists to realize that most vehicles – including boats and RVs – are 8-feet, 6-inches, or narrower."

For those who heading to or from the Lake of the Ozarks area or elsewhere, here are some possible alternate route you can take:

North (Moberly, Macon): U.S. Route 63 south to I-70 west to either Missouri Route 5 or Missouri Route 87.  

Northeast (Hannibal): U.S. Route 61 south to Missouri Route 47 to I-44 to Missouri Route 7. 

East (St. Louis-region): I-44 to Route 7, or I-44 to U.S. Route 50 to Missouri Route 28 to Route 42. 

The Missouri Department of Transportation says the traffic shift for the bridge rehabilitation is expected to cause significant delays. People from outside the area are encouraged to use an alternate route and local traffic should find a different route especially during rush hour.

Work is expected to continue through the middle October