New water intake tunnel under river approaching completion

A cluster of workers stand at the end of a 7-foot-high, 220-foot-long intake tunnel under the Missouri River.
A cluster of workers stand at the end of a 7-foot-high, 220-foot-long intake tunnel under the Missouri River.

This week, workers should complete the full length of a tunnel beneath the Missouri River as part of a project to increase the capacity of Jefferson City's water supplier.

Back in September, Missouri American Water started replacing equipment, some of which is more than 100 years old.

"This project is designed as a first step in avoiding the water-usage restrictions of 2005 and 2006," said Gilbert Cole, Jefferson City operations superintendent.