JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – That sound you just heard around the state from legislators, lobbyists, politicos and Jefferson City residents was a cheer that an end is on the horizon for the nightmare that has plagued the state’s capital for months.
The Missouri Department of Transportation announced Wednesday it would reopen the westbound Route 54/63 bridge in Jefferson City on Nov. 14, just over a month from now.
The bridge has been closed since May 1 and has caused the eastbound bridge to serve as both a westbound and eastbound bridge. The highway has shrunk to two lanes each way causing traffic congestion and delays for those crossing the Missouri River at that location.
MoDOT Central District Engineer David Silvester said while MoDOT completed its expected work on the bridge, a new coat of paint and general repairs, workers found that more rivets than expected needed to be replaced after they removed the old coat of paint. This revelation caused delays as MoDOT extended its contract with Saffo, Inc. to make the repairs.
“While we’re not happy we had to keep the bridge closed for longer than planned, we’re glad to be able to pinpoint a date for the bridge to reopen,” Silvester said in a statement. “Nov. 14 is still some weeks off, but at least we can see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Silvester estimates that the repairs will allow MoDOT to get roughly 20 to 30 more years, without maintenance like these repairs, he added that replacing the bridge would cost at least $100 million.
The reopening process will likely take the entire weekend of Friday, Nov. 11 to Nov. 14. Silvester thanked everyone who crossed the bridge for their “patience and understanding” in the five months of delays on the bridge.
“We know this work has been an inconvenience for many folks,” he said.
