Highway traffic expected ahead of Labor Day weekend; patrols increased for safety
Olivia Hayes
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
As the Labor Day weekend approaches, drivers will still have to adapt to work zones along the highways.
One work zone that has become a hotspot for several traffic crashes in recent months is the U.S. Highway 54 bridge rehabilitation project. The road in certain areas, both westbound and eastbound, is surrounded by road construction and narrowed down to one lane with speed reductions.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 17 people died and 498 were injured in 1,047 traffic crashes over the 2024 Labor Day holiday in Missouri. The MSHP holiday counting period begins at 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 1st. The Highway Patrol reports all available troopers will patrol roadways & waterways.
Sheriff John Wheeler, of the Cole Co. Sheriff’s Office, also said that his department will be heightening its patrol over the course of the holiday weekend. He explained that the extra deputies will allow the sheriff’s office to keep safety on the roads top of mind.
“Just making sure people are behaving themselves, especially around the construction zones,” Wheeler said. “We’re going to be looking for those that speed, we’re going to be looking for improper lane usage. We’re just going to be looking for everything, so people just need to slow down.”
The Missouri Department of Transportation reports that, except for emergencies, work will stop at noon on Friday and resume on Tuesday morning. Even though the work is paused, the work zone along Highway 54 will remain in place.
Steve Cearlock, with the Cole County Fire Protection District, said on a normal day more than 30,000 cars can drive across the stretch of highway. He said the most common accidents the fire district responds to are fender benders and that many of the crashes are caused due to distracted driving.
“Put your phones down and buckle up because putting your phones down is very important. You don’t need to be looking at your phone in this kind of condition,” Cearlock said.
Drivers should keep in mind the westbound bridge rehabilitation over the Moreau River Drainage, south of Jefferson City. That is scheduled for completion in October 2025.
Bridge rehabilitation also continues over Missouri Boulevard, and is scheduled for completion in early September 2025. Certain ramps associated with the project will also remain closed through September 2025:
Westbound U.S. Route 54 off-ramp to Missouri Boulevard.
Eastbound U.S. Route 50 off-ramp to westbound U.S. Route 54.
Missouri Boulevard on-ramp to eastbound U.S. Route 54.
Bridge replacements and associated access restrictions over Neighorn Branch, south of Jefferson City, are scheduled for completion in November 2025.