A long-awaited construction project to make major improvements to U.S. 63 will begin Monday, Aug. 29, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a contract in June 2015. A $1,777,245 project was awarded to Chester Bross Construction Co. of Hannibal for pavement improvements on U.S. 63 from Brushy Creek to Indian Creek in Texas County. Â
The work includes five lanes from First Street to Sonic Drive-In and three lanes from Miller’s Grill to Sonic Drive-In.
Additional funding found later allowed for a third lane to be added from Sonic Drive-In south to Miller’s Grill that hadn’t been included in the bid. Originally it was to be two lanes.
Traffic will be one lane from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. from Aug. 29 to Tuesday, Nov. 1. Some weekend work also may occur. Local motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes, such as Lilly Road, Holder Drive and Thomasville Road to miss the construction work.
Traffic won’t be stopped for more than 15 minutes at a time, it was announced at a pre-construction meeting. The work zone will be marked with signs and flaggers. MoDOT said motorists should use caution.
A $500,000 project to construct a sidewalk along U.S. 63 will now likely be delayed until spring due to the late start on the highway work, said City Administrator Sutton said.
The effort to construct a sidewalk from West Highway 17 near Corner Express to Houston Walmart Supercenter was among $3.1 million in projects to receive federal transportation alternative funds. The city will pay $100,000 of the project cost. Grant funding will pay the rest.