State and local officials will gather Friday in Osage County to celebrate the completion of a highway expansion project on U.S. 50.
The ribbon cutting will begin at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public. The ceremony will be located on the new bridge over 50, approximately one-half mile east of the Maries River.
The ceremony will be held rain or shine. Parking will be available for those in attendance.
The $25.5 million project, included nearly seven miles of 50 being relocated and widened to four lanes, from the 50/63 junction to County Road 604 west of Linn. The project also included construction of a new Maries River bridge. This bridge has a support structure and girders made of a state-of the-art concrete mix that is stronger and costs less than traditional materials.
"This project benefits motorists traveling not just in mid-Missouri, but those traveling across the state," said Missouri Department of Transportation Central District Engineer David Silvester. "With the completion of this section, all but 91 miles of U.S. 50 through Missouri is now four lanes."