New traffic pattern in place on U.S. Route 63 in Columbia for bridge construction

Motorists advised to use alternative route, avoid peak hours

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Traffic on U.S. Route 63 in Columbia successfully switched to a head-to-head configuration earlier this week. This new traffic pattern will be in place for roughly 10 months as construction crews build two new bridges as part of Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City and the overall redesign for the Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 63 interchange.

All U.S. Route 63 traffic between the Broadway overpass and the Conley Road underpass is currently pushed on to the northbound U.S. Route 63 lanes. Both directions of U.S. Route 63 briefly narrow to one lane before entering the head-to-head configuration and reopening to two lanes. All exit and entrance ramps for U.S. Route 63 are open.

Both morning and evening commutes are expected to continue to be congested through the end of construction. To help reduce back ups, motorists are encouraged to take some precautions:

• Use an alternate route, if possible.

• Plan ahead and leave early or later, if possible.

• If unable to avoid the busiest commute times, plan extra time for your trip.

• Leave more room between vehicles than normal. As drivers experience unexpected lane shifts and ramp closures, sudden braking and too little follow distance can create rear-end crashes with a domino effect.

• Eliminate all distractions including adjusting the radio, eating, and phone calls.

• Buckle Up Phone Down.

These new bridges will create an underpass allowing traffic from Conley Road to move north directly into the I-70/U.S. Route 63 interchange. Building the two bridges is expected to take around 10 months. Construction crews are building the southbound bridge first, with all traffic on the northbound lanes. Once that bridge is complete, traffic will be switched to the new southbound bridge while the northbound bridge is constructed.

The U.S. Route 63 underpass is the first phase of the work to reconstruct the I-70/U.S. Route 63 interchange, which is one portion of the first project within MoDOT's Statewide Improve I-70 Program. Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom Citywill add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 20-mile stretch of I-70 between U.S. Route 63 (Columbia) and Route 54 (Kingdom City). This $405 million fixed-cost contract includes new pavement on all three lanes of I-70 and will also make interchange improvements to the I-70 interchanges at U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 54. Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City construction is scheduled for completion in late 2027. Full details about Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City can be found at www.modot.org/improvei70/columbiakingdomcity.

Missouri's FY2024 budget from the General Assembly signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue for the costs to build a third lane of I-70 across the state. The program will plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and add a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville. For more information on the Improve I-70 Program and to sign up for program e-mails, visit http://www.modot.org/improvei70.

For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.

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