Closure of Missouri River Bridge at Jefferson City delayed two weeks

Update: MODOT just announced that they will be keeping the westbound lanes opens for two more weeks. According to project engineers, the delay is related to concerns over preparing the steel for painting.

Officials say the scope of the project has not changed, nor has the estimated total closure time of four months.

Original Story: Closure of the westbound Route 54/63 bridge will begin Friday.

Westbound traffic will be switched to the east bound bridge Friday evening. The eastbound lanes will be restriped to carry two lanes of eastbound and two lanes of westbound traffic.

“Getting everything in order to close the bridge will take a couple of days,” says Patty Lemongelli, the contrstuction and materials engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Central District.

MODOT advises drivers to alter their travel schedules as much as they possibly can to avoid the rush hours.

The bridge will be closed for about four months while workers paint and repair. It is scheduled to reopen on August 12th.

The westbound bridge built was built in 1955 and carries about 28,000 vehicles a day.

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