Construction crews are making progress on the Missouri River Bridge outside Jefferson City, though drivers on Labor Day weekend were hit with major delays. Bridge traffic is confined to one of the two bridges that make up the crossing while the other is being repaired, causing delays as drivers are squeezed into narrow lanes. Missouri Department of Transportation spokesperson Sally Oxenhandler said she understands how frustrating getting stuck in traffic can be, but said the construction on the bridge has to be done.
“This investment in the bridge is very important because these major river bridges are huge, and costly, and it’s a very complex project,” Oxenhandler said, “so we are allowing them the time to get the project done correctly.”
Oxenhandler said the bridge will probably reopen at the end of October or beginning of November, though it’s hard to pin down an exact date. When construction is finished, she expects the work to add between 30 and 40 years to the life of the bridge.
Local police made a note of the congestion as well, but said the inconvenience to drivers while the bridge is closed will be worth it once the job is done.
“It’s obviously frustrating,” Capt. Doug Shoemaker of the Jefferson City Police department said, “but it’s one of those issues where there is just no other way of doing business.” Shoemaker said drivers who head over the bridge should make sure to avoid speeding or reckless driving, adding it usually takes drivers only a few extra minutes to head over the bridge while it’s under construction.
Oxenhandler said she hoped drivers would continue to allot time in their schedules for the longer trip without “going back to their old habits” from before the bridge was closed. Despite congestion, local police say there were no serious accidents on the bridge over the holiday weekend.