Stadium, Jefferson project moving forward

Though there have been some delays, Jefferson City staff still expect to be ready to start construction on the Stadium Boulevard and Jefferson Street intersection by next summer.

At the Public Works and Planning Committee meeting Thursday, City Engineer David Bange said the project, which looks to address traffic backing up onto U.S. 54 from the off-ramp at Jefferson Street and congestion on Stadium Boulevard, is currently focused on acquiring necessary right-of-way from several property owners.

At the Jefferson and Stadium intersection, the project includes putting in a dual-lane roundabout with a right-hand slip lane coming off the U.S. 54 exit ramp through Stadium to Christy Drive. The project also will widen Stadium back to the Trinity Lutheran Church driveway.

Bange said the city needs to purchase right-of-way from three properties and get temporary construction easements on three others. Bange said the city has reached an agreement with one owner, but is still in negotiations with the other five, including Trinity Lutheran.

"We have lost some ground on our overall schedule, mainly due to the time it has taken to complete property appraisals," Bange wrote in a memo to the committee. "We are still looking to have all of the needed right of way in our possession by the end of December; however, that goal cannot be reached if negotiations break down with any of the remaining five owners and condemnation is necessary."

As long as the negotiations move forward, Bange said the city hopes to have the project bid in February with a construction date in April.

This is the second phase of improvements in the area of U.S. 54 and Stadium Boulevard.

The first phase, in conjunction with the expansion of Capital Region Medical Center, includes a roundabout, making Monroe Street a two-way street from Woodlawn Avenue to Stadium, a traffic signal at Monroe-Stadium and widening Stadium to make it five lanes for left-turn pockets.

Public works officials have said this is the last major joint project between Cole County and Jefferson City to be done with current capital improvement sales tax money. State road fund money is also being used with an estimated total of about $4 million for both projects.