COLUMBIA — The Missouri Department of Transportation is looking to improve U.S. 63 and Route H.
The project is budgeted to cost at least $20 million, and could be funded by pending federal legislation.
“This will really improve the safety of U.S. 63,” MoDOT Project Manager Nicole Hood said Tuesday at a Boone County Commission meeting.
A public meeting would be held for comments before finalizing plans.
“Everything we’re proposing and the designs will be ready to go if the jobs bill is passed,” Hood said.
Construction could begin as early as this fall and would probably last 12 to 18 months.
Improvements would start just south of Route H at the Columbia Regional Airport turnoff, running 4.6 miles to just north of the KOMU station. Roundabouts for Route H will be added above U.S. 63 just west of that existing road.
Turn-around locations and a deceleration lane would replace crossovers and medians, which minimizes conflicts that motorists have to worry about.
The outer road would be extended to hook up to southbound lanes, allowing trucks to easily access the interchange.