Missouri Department of Transportation planning improvement and maintenance projects for Highway 63

The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning improvements to Highway 63 between Jefferson City and Columbia.

It will resurface Highway 63 from Highway 54 in Cole County to Highway WW/East Broadway in Boone County.

MoDOT says this stretch of highway has more than 18,000 vehicles a day traveling on it and that number is expected to increase.

The highway is often used by heavy trucks, and MoDOT says this takes a toll on the road.

“This route gets a lot of pounding,” said MoDOT engineer Mike Dusenberg.

Engineers at MoDOT have also been looking at a few key intersections along Highway 63 in Ashland. They are looking to add a roundabout at the Ashland exit and J-turns at other roads that intersect with Highway 63.

“The design that we’re building there will actually provide increased safety for the motorists coming in and out of those intersections,” said Dusenberg.

Engineers say these improvements in Ashland will keep traffic flowing smoothly and lessen the chances of deadly crashes.

They say the improvements are necessary because of Ashland’s recent growth.

“There’s a lot of new residential developments that have popped up over the last few years,” said Dusenberg.

The projects will begin in the spring and are expected to be finished by fall.

The cost is projected to be $8.5 million.