JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The new bridge on eastbound U.S. Route 54 over the Neighorn Branch, south of Jefferson City, is now open. Construction crews completed building the new structure, and traffic patterns returned to normal Friday, Sept. 26. However, the road will again narrow in early October for rehabilitation work to the westbound bridge.

Construction crews, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, began replacing the eastbound U.S. Route 54 bridge over the Neighorn Branch on June 23. This required U.S. Route 54 to narrow to one lane in each direction, with all traffic shifted onto the westbound lanes in a head-to-head configuration.

Now that the new eastbound bridge is complete, crews will rehabilitate the westbound bridge. Starting Oct. 8, U.S. Route 54 will again narrow to one lane in each direction, this time with all traffic shifted onto the new eastbound lanes in a head-to-head configuration. Single-lane closures are anticipated to start the week of Sept. 29 as crews prepare for the new traffic pattern. The head-to-head traffic configuration is expected to be in place through the end of November.

As with the first phase of work for the Neighorn Branch bridges, Route CC, Shepherd Hills Road, and Wooded Hills Lane will remain open during construction. However, there will be turning restrictions:

• Existing median crossovers closed at Route CC, Shepherd Hills Road and Wooded Hills Lane.
• Route CC:
  • No access from U.S. Route 54 eastbound to Route CC.
  • No access from Route CC to either direction of U.S. Route 54.
• Shepherd Hills Road/Wooded Hills Lane intersection:
  • No access to or from westbound U.S. Route 54 at Shepherd Hills Road.
  • No access to or from eastbound U.S. Route 54 at Wooded Hills Lane.

A 12-foot width restriction and speed reductions as low as 45 mph will be in place through the work zone.

All work is weather-permitting, and schedules are subject to change.

MoDOT awarded a $2,849,278.23 contract to Don Schnieders Excavating Company, Inc. to complete the project. For more information, or to sign up for project-specific updates, visit the project's webpage at https://www.modot.org/projects/us-route-54-bridge-replacement-over-neighorn-branch-cole-county .

MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.

For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation-related matters, please visit our Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/ or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with us on social media:

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