MoDOT to restrict left turns at McDonald’s/Texas Roadhouse in Jefferson City, install traffic signal on Missouri Boulevard
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Jefferson City drivers will soon no longer be able to make a left-hand turn into the Texas Roadhouse and McDonald's parking lot on Missouri Boulevard.
The Missouri Department of Transportation held an open house public meeting on Tuesday to showcase its plans to improve the intersection at Missouri Boulevard.
According to MoDOT officials, the area has been a priority for several years due to safety concerns. MoDOT estimates at least four-to-five crashes have occurred near the intersection of Missouri Boulevard and South Ten Mile Drive during the past 10 years, most of which are the result of vehicles trying to make a left-hand turn to reach the McDonalds or Texas Roadhouse.
“Making that a signalized intersection, will certainly reduce those crashes a lot. As you continue to the west where there are two lanes in each direction, we see a lot of rear-end crashes too, where someone is wanting to turn into one of the businesses and they get rear-ended,” MoDOT Central District Engineer, Trent Brooks said. “Widening the road to add that fifth lane, that lane that's dedicated for those left turns, we'll eliminate those rear-end crashes.”
The goal of the project is to reduce congestion, alleviate back-ups, and increase safety on Missouri Boulevard, west of the Highway 179 junction. It will cost an estimated $2.1 million.
The project includes adding a concrete barrier to prevent cars from making left-hand turns into the McDonald's and Texas Roadhouse parking lot, installing a signal at Missouri Boulevard and South Ten Mile Drive, and extending the sidewalk on the south side of Missouri Boulevard from South Ten Mile Drive to the east of Wildwood Drive. Vehicles will still be able to make right-hand turns into the lots, however, all other traffic will be rerouted to the new signal, so they can enter through the back of the lot.
“I think it’s going to flow better,” project manager Greg Leary said. “Just the way things are laid out like the McDonald's, the McDonald's drive-thru doesn't line up with the exit on Missouri Boulevard. So if you go through the drive-thru, you really need to go to the exit anyway or circle way around.”
A manager at Texas Roadhouse told ABC 17 News that MoDOT sent them an invitation to attend the meeting, but they were unable to send anyone due to the dinner rush. She added that she does not believe the project will be much of an inconvenience for customers, since a lot of cars speed down Missouri Boulevard and cars making a left-hand turn have a blind spot from cars coming over the hill.
“The people I've talked to are super excited that the signal is going to be going in the additional lane. They see the benefits that it'll bring safety-wise and just the better efficient flow of traffic,” Brooks said.
MoDOT is still seeking feedback from the public and will begin submitting contracting bids in December 2025. The project is expected to be completed in December 2026.
