A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday to mark the completion of improvements on Lafayette Street.
The celebration will be at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Lafayette and State streets, between the new federal courthouse and the entrance to the old Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP).
The improvements include:
• A northern extension of Lafayette Street toward the Missouri River.
• Widening the existing street from two lanes to three lanes.
• New sidewalks.
• Improved street lighting to enhance pedestrian safety.
• A new traffic signal at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Lafayette Street.
This first phase of the Lafayette Street project was a cooperative effort between Jefferson City and the Cole County Commission. The project, which was funded by both entities, is one of the projects made possible through 2007-12 half-cent capital improvements sales taxes that were approved by voters in 2006.
The next phase of the Lafayette Project is expected to begin in 2011 and will involve the reconstruction of Lafayette Street from Capitol Avenue to McCarty Street.
The Lafayette Street corridor was targeted for upgrade and capacity improvements in anticipation of additional traffic that will flow along the route as a result of a future interchange expected to be constructed at Lafayette Street and U.S. 50/63 as well as further development at the MSP site.