Scott Bouelvard scheduled to reopen Friday

Columbia Public Works announced Wednesday that all off Scott Boulevard in south Columbia is set to reopen Friday afternoon.

The $31.2 million Scott Boulevard Improvement project was approved by voters in 2005 with construction beginning in 2009. Public Works officials said the work was separated into three phases to help minimize traffic impacts.

“Scott Boulevard is an important north-south corridor as more communities and developments have occurred in southern Columbia,” said Barry Dalton, public works spokesperson. “That’s a very important road. It was a narrow road and in some cases an unsafe road.”

According to crash data compiled by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there’s been nine crashes along Scott Boulevard from Vawter School Road to Route KK over the past five years. None of those were fatal and only two people were injured in the crashes.

The project included widening the roads, installing new traffic signals, sidewalks and a roundabout. The work was to also help carry a higher volume of traffic as housing developments continue to grow on the south side of town.

The latest closure was between the roundabout at Vawter School Road and Sawgrass Drive. Crews shut down that portion of Scott Boulevard on August 22.

The final closure is set to reopen a 5 p.m. on Friday November 4.