For drivers frequenting U.S. Route 63 in Columbia, it's time to map out some detours. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced that a single lane in each direction will be closed for pavement repairs. Expected backups mean you'll need to pad your travel schedule or find an alternate path. The affected stretch lies snugly between the Conley Road underpass and Broadway overpass, with closures beginning 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. today, as per MoDOT's notice.
If the crews find they're wrestling with more stubborn potholes than expected, those traveling through the artery tomorrow between the same times might just encounter round two of the closure. Throw in the additional disruption from a nighttime closure of Conley Road, in effect from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. that started yesterday until tomorrow.
Patience and planning are the names of the game for local motorists. MoDOT advises anyone driving south of Interstate 70 on Route 63 to consider different routes or allow extra time to maneuver through the anticipated congestion. As construction crews buckle down on bringing smoothness back to the battered pavement, MoDOT’s message to drivers is straightforward: "Buckle Up. Phone Down."
