Clark Avenue overpass to require additional repairs

In this May 24, 2016 file photo, traffic is shown at the Clark Avenue overpass above U.S. 50/63 in Jefferson City. The overpass was closed in September 2016, its deck and railings rehabilitated, and then reopened on Nov. 23, 2016.
In this May 24, 2016 file photo, traffic is shown at the Clark Avenue overpass above U.S. 50/63 in Jefferson City. The overpass was closed in September 2016, its deck and railings rehabilitated, and then reopened on Nov. 23, 2016.

The Clark Avenue bridge over U.S. 50/63 needs more extensive repairs than anticipated, according to MoDOT officials.

Work to put a new driving surface on the bridge has revealed the 56-year-old concrete on the structure has deteriorated more than expected and will require more extensive repairs than planned.

"The extra work will ensure we get 20 years of additional service out of the bridge, which is the project goal," MoDOT's Central District Engineer David Silvester said. "We'll move quickly to address these issues, but it will mean the Clark Avenue bridge will be closed for a longer period. We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause local motorists."

The bridge closed Sept. 19 for an intended 45 days. The additional work will keep the overpass closed until early to mid-December.

"As we continue to deal with an aging infrastructure and limited resources to address all of our bridge needs, we're going to encounter these types of issues," said Dennis Heckman, MoDOT's state bridge engineer. "It's difficult to know exactly what you're going to find underneath the surface of these old bridges."

The contractor, Capital Paving and Construction, will begin to address the additional repairs starting Saturday, when U.S. 50/63 near the bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction so a portion of the bridge's deck can be removed. Traffic also will be routed along Clark on and off ramps for safety. That traffic configuration will end at 6 a.m. Monday.

In addition to this weekend's closures, drivers will experience daily lane closures while the work progresses. One lane in each direction will be closed except for peak travel times. More specifically, during the weekdays, both lanes of westbound 50/63 will be open 6-9 a.m., while both lanes in the eastbound direction will remain open 3-6 p.m.

"We plan to keep the route open during peak travel times to reduce the impact to area commuters as much as possible," Silvester said.

"We pledge to get the bridge back into good shape and open to drivers as soon as we safely can."