MoDOT will soon begin intersection improvements along U.S. 54 in Cole County as a result of a construction contract awarded by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, Wednesday.
The improvements will increase safety and traffic flow at 12 intersections along approximately 8.5 miles of U.S. 54 between Route CC and Old Bass Road.
Lehman Construction LLC, of California, Mo., submitted the low bid of $3,739,416.38 to complete the project.
Since March 2010, MoDOT has been working closely with the community to address intersection safety along the corridor and reduce the number of intersection crashes that result in fatalities and severe injuries. An advisory committee of local stakeholders met several times with MoDOT team members and a public hearing on the project was held in January 2011.
A variety of improvement strategies will be used throughout the corridor, including acceleration and deceleration lanes, offset turn lanes, lighting, and other lane modifications. Detailed information about each intersection and the improvements being made can be reviewed at www.modot.org/central.
Work is scheduled to begin in summer 2011 and will continue through fall 2012. Once work has begun on a specific intersection, the contractor will have a set time to complete the work at that location, but work can also take place at multiple intersections at the same time. Lane closures will be required for the work, but one lane of U.S. 54 in each direction will remain open at all times. When possible, the contractor will avoid lane closures during peak travel times. Motorists should also be aware that a portion of Monticello Road, near Marble Graphics, will close for approximately one month during work at that location.