The Missouri Capitol restoration project is about 65 percent complete and is still on track for completion in late 2020, a Missouri Office of Administration spokeswoman said.
The $28.69 million project began March 1, 2018, and is supposed to be completed by December 2020, just in time for the January 2021 Inaugural Ceremonies traditionally held on the Capitol's South Lawn.
The total project is intended to restore much of the Capitol's exterior stonework, from the ground to the top of the dome 238 feet up.
Crews are currently working on the east side balustrades/railings and stairs, OA Director of Communications Brittany Ruess said last week. Earlier this year, crews finished the east side stone repairs and replacement, as well as the cleaning of stone walls.
The crews are currently working on the west side, where they will clean stone facade; repair and replace stone as needed; repair stairs, balustrades and pavers as needed; repair or replace some pavers; and professionally clean the west side, Ruess said.
Work on the pavers on the north side of the building is slated to start in September or October.
Before the December 2020 completion deadline, crews still have to:
Repair or replace the remaining pavers.
Complete the east side balustrades and stairs repairs and replacement.
Restore the West Capitol Avenue and sidewalks on the south side of the building.
Complete dome, lantern and columns repairs and replacements.
Re-install the Ceres statue on top of the Capitol.
The statute of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, was removed from the top of the Capitol last November. Ruess said crews anticipate re-installing Ceres in early December 2019. The statue is undergoing laser cleaning treatment to remove contaminants while preserving its natural color tones and patina of its bronze.
The main contractor on the renovation work is Chicago-based Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration LLC.
While there have not been any setbacks with the project, Ruess said, crews did have issues with the wrapping surrounding the scaffolding ripping during high winds.
"OA and the crews have worked through that challenge so it does not impede the project's progress," Ruess said.