Route 54 to close overnight Wednesday

All lanes of Route 54 will be closed for one hour Wednesday night as crews fix power lines.

Starting at midnight, the Missouri Department of Transportation will close Route 54 between the Osage River Bridge and the Route 242 interchange.

MoDOT says Ameren Missouri electrical crews need to repair power lines that were damaged during Monday night’s storms.

During the closure, drivers will be detoured onto Route 242 and Business 54 across Bagnell Dam.

After the closure, the speed limit on Route 54 will be reduced to 40 mph from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday so that Ameren crews can continue to work on the power lines.

“Closing the road will help us keep travelers safe while Ameren Missouri performs some critical repairs that will ensure local businesses and residents maintain power,” said MoDOT District Engineer David Silvester.

MoDOT says its crew and local law enforcement will be one scene to coordinate the closure. Drivers should be aware of the electronic message boards, which will help direct traffic near the work zone.