Renovation work on the exterior of the Missouri state Capitol is nearing the halfway point, the Missouri Office of Administration announced Monday.
As of Monday, the project is about 45 percent complete and remains on budget and on schedule with anticipated completion at the end of 2020, OA officials said in a news release.
Phase 2 of the Missouri State Capitol Construction Project began in March 2018 to address more than a century of wear and tear.
OA officials said the building's first major construction project will address the deteriorating stonework on its facades, dome and drum, which was completed in 1917. The project will essentially extend the life of the building as well as improve its overall appearance, structural stability and water-shedding capacity.
The total cost for the project is $28.69 million, and the main contractor on the renovation work is Chicago-based Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration LLC.
In recent weeks, crews have worked to replace covering that rips during high winds. OA officials said the repair and replacement of the covering has not affected the project's timeline.
People should not be alarmed when the covering rips, OA officials said, as it is designed to come off when winds reach or exceed 50 mph. This prevents lifting and damaging to the scaffolding and building.
Recent high winds have not damaged the scaffolding or the building, according to OA.
In the past year, work on the entire east horseshoe (the east, northeast and southeast portions) of the Capitol has been completed, including cleaning, stone repairs and stone replacement.
In the next couple of weeks, the scaffolding and covering surrounding the east horseshoe will start to come down so it can be used on the west side horseshoe. This process is anticipated to be completed later this spring. Some waterproofing work and the replacement of pavers remains to be completed on the east and northeast sides of the building.
Work on the north plaza on the north side of West Capitol Avenue was completed in December. Some minor work remains to be completed in the plaza, such as cleaning of the Louisiana Treaty Monument and sealing of the Fountain of the Centaurs liner. That work is expected to be completed this spring.
In addition, 50 percent of the work on the dome and drum has been completed, including major structural improvements to the lantern. Overall, 50 percent of the needed water proofing of the Capitol has been completed. As construction moves to the west side of the building, waterproofing will continue.
As construction continues on the Capitol, an important piece of the building is being restored off site.
The statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture - which was removed from the top of the Capitol in November from 238 feet above the ground - is on track to be back on site by late this year, OA officials said. The statue is undergoing laser cleaning treatment to remove contaminants while preserving its natural color tones and patina of its bronze.
During the evaluation of the statue, it was determined Ceres had been struck by lightning more than 300 times, but lightning never traveled through the statue, which weighs 1,407 pounds.
The renovations are to be finished by December 2020 so the January 2021 Inaugural Ceremonies can be held on the Capitol's South Lawn, as has been the state's tradition.
The project was about 25 percent completed in November.
For more information about the project, visit capitol.mo.gov/construction.