The entrance to Westview Drive from Missouri Route 5 in Versailles will temporarily close beginning Thursday as part of a Missouri Department of Transportation construction project aimed at improving drainage and reducing flooding.
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According to a MoDOT news release, the closure is expected to last approximately two weeks while crews remove the existing culvert and install a larger replacement. Construction is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. Thursday.
MoDOT had initially planned to begin the culvert replacement in December but postponed the work to minimize disruption to the local community. Officials said the timing was adjusted to reduce the impact on nearby traffic and school operations.
The construction zone affects a key access point frequently used for student pickup and drop-off at the Morgan County R-2 School District. In response, the district has implemented temporary traffic changes to maintain safe and efficient transportation during the closure.
School buses will enter and exit campus using the rear entrance near the baseball and softball fields, according to a district Facebook post. Buses will then travel along Westview Drive and connect to Newton Street, also known as Missouri Route 52, to reach the school.
The district has asked all other drivers to use the front entrances near Versailles Elementary School and the McDonald’s location during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup periods to reduce congestion and ensure student safety.
The culvert replacement is part of a broader MoDOT contract awarded by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to S & A Equipment & Builders, LLC. The larger project also included construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Missouri Routes 5 and 52, as well as the addition of a center turn lane along Route 52.
MoDOT officials said the overall project is expected to be completed early this year. All construction activities remain weather dependent and subject to change.
Originally reported by Sarah Moura, KOMU 8 Digital Producer in KOMU.
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