A project to improve nine bridges along U.S. 54 in Cole and Miller counties is set to begin Monday with the rehabilitation of the westbound U.S. 54 bridge over Little Gravois Creek. Built in 1966, this bridge is approximately 7 miles south of Eldon and approximately a half-mile west of Route V in Miller County.
The work on the bridge will reduce westbound U.S. 54 traffic over Little Gravois Creek to one lane around the clock through the end of October, Missouri Department of Transportation officials said. Work involves deck repairs and the application of a new concrete wearing surface.
Electronic message boards are installed in the area to warn of the lane closure.
The bridge rehabilitation is part of a larger plan by MoDOT to improve and extend the life of nine bridges between Brazito and the Lake of the Ozarks during the next 10 months.
The other bridges are:
- U.S. 54 eastbound and westbound over Wrights Creek (both built in 1972).
- U.S.54 eastbound and westbound over Old Tuscumbia Road (both built in 1973).
- U.S. 54 eastbound over the Rock Island Railroad, east of Missouri 87 (built in 1973).
- U.S. 54 eastbound and westbound over Business 54 (both built in 1973).
- Missouri 17 over U.S. 54 (built in 1972).
The second and third bridges to be rehabilitated will be eastbound and westbound U.S. 54 bridges over Wrights Creek. The entire project is expected to be complete by the end of June 2019.