This period of disappointment and frustration will end soon.
No, we're not talking about the venomous barbs, attack ads and robo-calls connected with the election campaign, we're talking about the conclusion of two major traffic projects.
Today marks the opening of the Lafayette Street Interchange. Work on the Chestnut Street bridge spanning U.S. 50/63 has resulted in lane closures on the four-lane highway.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating completion of the project will be held at 10:30 a.m. today.
"We're pleased to cut the ribbon on this project, which not only improves safety and traffic flow on Route 50/63 through the heart of Jefferson City, but also provides much needed access to a number of vital areas in the community," said David Silvester, central district engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). "We appreciate the support and patience of area motorists for the past two years as we worked to make these improvements."
Separately, Nov. 14 marks the scheduled reopening of one of the two bridge spans crossing the Missouri River.
And, although the project hasn't been under way for two years, the duration may seem that long for commuters who travel daily between Cole and Callaway counties.
The bridge repainting and repair project was expected to last from May through August, but was extended after additional problems were uncovered.
According to MoDOT, the blasting process to remove the old paint revealed a larger number of deteriorated rivets needing to be replaced.
"While we're not happy we had to keep the bridge closed for longer than planned, we're glad to be able to pinpoint a date for the bridge to reopen," Silvester said. "We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time. We know this work has been an inconvenience for many folks."
Although motorists understand warmer weather corresponds with road improvements, these projects have called for added patience and attentiveness.
We commend motorists for respecting work zones and encourage them to continue emphasizing safety after the orange barrels are removed and all lanes are open to traffic.