MoDOT considers area roadway improvements

This June 2011 News Tribune file photo shows traffic on U.S. 54/63 in north Jefferson City.
This June 2011 News Tribune file photo shows traffic on U.S. 54/63 in north Jefferson City.

All five roadway projects the Long Range Transportation Planning (CAMPO) considered unfunded needs are on a state list for funding.

Of the five projects, focused on improving area roadways, two are on a draft of the Missouri Department of Transportation's Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and the other three are on the list of potential projects.

Eric Bannon, CAMPO planning manager, said he's "very happy" with how the projects were placed.

MoDOT will likely approve the STIP in the next month or two. Until approved, the funded projects aren't official.

One of the approved projects looks at U.S. 54 as it approaches the north Missouri River Bridge, mostly in Callaway County.

Bannon said the project would focus on making the road three lanes to make it less of a freight bottleneck.

"We also recognize approaching on the Cole County side, is also important," he said. "The bridge as a whole is a very high traffic corridor and congested, certainly, at peak hour times. But the Callaway County side has some things that we think can be done."

"It would also look at the overpass and the interchange at Highway 63," Bannon said.

The other project on the STIP addresses the interchange at U.S. 54 and Simon Boulevard in Holts Summit. Bannon said the current intersections on the off ramps are stop signs at this point.

Meanwhile, two other intersection projects and an expansion of the Rex Whitton Expressway have received a Tier 2 rating, which means they are more likely to be in a future STIP.

Improving the intersections of U.S. 50 and Truman Boulevard, and U.S. 54 and Ellis Boulevard were Tier 2.

Bannon said both intersections see congestion and accidents, and they also have safety concerns.

The third would expand the Rex Whitton Expressway near U.S. 50. The area sees higher than average amount of congestion, Bannon said. It would also work on the Madison Street overpass.