City of Columbia Missouri

P.O. BOX 6015
COLUMBIA, MO 65205

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2017

CONTACT: Columbia Public Works
(573) 874-7217

[UPDATE] Providence Road Improvement Project scheduled to begin May 15

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

UPDATE DETAILS: Sam Gaines Construction, the contractor for the project, plans to start in the early morning hours of Monday, May 15, and remove the barrier islands at Fifth and Rollins. This will serve as an alternative access point while Turner Avenue is closed.  Turner Avenue, University Heights and Kentucky Avenue are scheduled to close early Monday morning as well.  Lane closures on Providence are likely throughout this project but are scheduled to occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

(A quote from Community Relations Director Steve Sapp was also added to the original press release.)


Original Press Release (May 5, 2017: A major Columbia road will be getting some major improvements this summer, but traffic disruption will be minimized. The project will add new traffic signals, turn lanes, a sidewalk and signalized pedestrian crosswalks that will increase safety for drivers, bikers and pedestrians.

The Providence Road Improvement Project is scheduled to begin construction the week of May 15, 2017. The goals for the project include improving Providence Road through-traffic movement and improving access for the Grasslands Neighborhood and the University of Missouri.

"The intersection of Stadium Boulevard and Providence Road is one of the busiest signalized intersections in Columbia," Engineering Supervisor Allison Anderson said. "This causes through traffic on Providence Road to block access to and from the side roads to the Grasslands Neighborhood and the University."  

To lessen the impact on local traffic during construction, all lane restrictions on Providence will be performed during overnight hours. However, there will be some closures of side-road access beginning with Turner Avenue at Providence, Kentucky Boulevard at Providence and University Heights at Providence. Turner is scheduled to reopen by June 15, weather permitting; Kentucky Boulevard and University Heights by June 30, weather permitting. The full project is scheduled to be completed by early Fall 2017.

Drivers, nonmotorized transportation users and pedestrians are reminded to use caution in and around the work zone and use alternate routes when accessing Kentucky, Turner and University Heights.

Specific project improvements include:

  • New Traffic Signals: Installation of traffic signals along Providence Road at the intersection with Burnam Road and at the intersection with Turner Avenue.

  • Traffic Signal Removal: Removal of the existing traffic signal along Providence Road at the intersection with Rollins Street.

  • New Sidewalk: Construction of a sidewalk along the south side of Burnam Road from Birch Road to Providence Road.

  • Two Signalized Crosswalks: Enhancing the crosswalks at the signalized intersections at Turner and Burnam to meet or exceed current standards, including pedestrian signals.

  • Southbound right turn lane: Extension of the southbound right turn lane onto Stadium from  Providence Road.

  • Intersection access improvements: The intersections of Providence Road with Bingham Road and Kentucky Boulevard will be converted to right-in/right-out/left-in. The intersections of Providence Road with Rollins Street and Brandon Road will be converted to right-in/right-out.

"The safety of pedestrians, drivers and nonmotorized transportation users, as recently highlighted by the City's adoption of a Vision Zero policy, is our primary focus when we design and implement construction of new infrastructure projects," Public Works Director David Nichols said. "So the Providence Road Improvement Project fits in very well with those efforts as we work towards making our roads and intersections less congested and safer."

The project was competitively bid this spring and is estimated to be completed by the fall of 2017, weather permitting. The Columbia City Council approved the project after a public hearing on June 3, 2013. Other public hearings and interested party meetings were conducted on April 24, 2008; April 20, 2010; November 19, 2012; March 20, 2013; and April 15, 2013. The project investment will be an estimated $3,920,000 with funds coming from 2005 Capital Improvement Sales Tax and MoDOT's Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds.

"This project has been through more public input than almost any other roadway project in Columbia," Community Relations Director Steve Sapp said. "This project was approved by voters in 2001 and since that time over a dozen options were studied and vetted by the public, residents of the area and MoDOT."

Additional closures or lane restrictions will be announced later as necessary but Providence will remain open. Updates on project progress will be available at www.como.gov/publicworks/providence-improvement.



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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