Commuters and residents in Cooper, Moniteau, Morgan, and Cole counties should be prepared for some delays starting next week, as a significant road resurfacing project gets underway. Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that nearly 55 miles of roads will be resurfaced, with construction commencing on Monday, March 24.
The resurfacing work will necessitate lane reductions to one lane on affected routes Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Traffic will be managed through the work zones with flaggers and a pilot car. As per the Missouri Department of Transportation, all efforts should be completed by the close of May.
In terms of logistics, the following routes are scheduled for maintenance: In Cooper County, Route CC, Route OO, Route HH, Route NN, Route KK, Route T, and Route W will see improvements. In Moniteau County, Route P, Route MM, and part of Route V will be targeted, with Route V also extending into Cole County. An additional stretch of Route PP is slated in Morgan County, and Route H touches both Cooper and Moniteau counties. Motorists are urged by the Missouri Department of Transportation to be cautious, avoiding distractions and complying with work zone signs and regulations.
This project, part of Governor Parson’s Rural Road program, was contracted to Capital Paving & Construction, LLC with an award of $5,092,434.67, back in October of 2024. The program notably received a boost with the signing of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget by Gov. Parson, which included an extra $100 million dedicated to the improvement of rural roads. To get more details on these initiatives, and how they relate to the Rural Roads Program, interested parties can visit the program's official page on the Missouri Department of Transportation website.
The communities impacted by these upgrades can anticipate smoother and more reliable travel routes upon completion. While the construction may introduce temporary inconveniences, the state department envisions a safer, and, ultimately, swifter passage across the counties in the long term. Missouri Department of Transportation appeals to the public to aid in the smooth progression of the work: "by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones."
