Repairs to 9 Callaway County bridges to begin

A project to improve nine Callaway County bridges along U.S. 54 is set to begin Thursday with the rehabilitation of the westbound U.S. 54 bridge over Middle River, according to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release.

The bridge is located between Fulton and New Bloomfield, approximately 6 miles southwest of Fulton.

The preliminary work on the bridge, which will take place during the daytime hours, will reduce westbound U.S. 54 traffic over Middle River to one lane Thursday and Friday. Work during the two days involves removing and replacing the existing asphalt shoulders on the bridge.

Both lanes of westbound U.S. 54 over Middle River are scheduled to be reopened all day next Saturday and Sunday.

Bridge rehabilitation work begins again the morning July 24. At this time, westbound U.S. 54 traffic will be reduced to one lane around the clock in the area of the bridge.

Work on the bridge is scheduled to be completed by mid-September.

Electronic message boards are installed in the area to warn of the lane closure. Drivers should adjust travel times accordingly during peak travel times.

The bridge rehabilitation is part of a larger plan by MoDOT to improve 12 bridges between Interstate 70 and New Bloomfield in Callaway County during the next 15 months.

The other bridges include U.S. 54 eastbound over Richland Creek; U.S. 54 westbound over Richland Creek; U.S. 54 eastbound over the KCR Railroad; U.S. 54 eastbound over Stinson Creek; U.S. 54 eastbound over Business 54; U.S. 54 eastbound over I-70; U.S. 54 westbound over I-70; U.S. 54 westbound over Hillers Creek.

Replacement of the Route H bridge over Davis Creek is ongoing and is scheduled to be completed in early August.

Bridge deck replacement on the Route O bridge over Crows Fork Creek is underway and is scheduled to be completed by mid-September.

Bridge deck replacement on the Route UU bridge over Crows Fork Creek has already been completed.

The bridges over Richland Creek and the KCR Railroad will get new decks. The remaining U.S. 54 bridges will be rehabilitated.