Bridge repair on Route 63 starts; drivers to expect travel delay during rush hour

Missouri Department of Transportation road crews started construction on U.S. Highway 63, 3 miles outside of Jefferson City, over the Katy Trail Monday morning.

Due to the construction starting on the southbound lanes, drivers are being re-routed into one lane, each direction, on the northbound side. The traffic will be separated by concrete barriers.

MoDOT engineers said drivers should expect anywhere from a five- to 25-minute delay from traffic in the area. They said a 25-minute delay could be expected during rush hour.

Road crews will replace a deck on the southbound bridge, which will widen the bridge, and bring the guardrail and bridge barrier up to current standards.

The deck replacement is expected to finish before Aug. 21.

Sally Oxenhandler, communications manager for MoDOT, said the contract specifically urged crews to finish the deck replacement before the solar eclipse on Aug. 21 so travelers won’t be impacted.

The whole project is expected to be completed by September and cost more than $1 million.