JEFFERSON CITY - The intersection of Route 54 and Key Largo Road in Osage Beach will remain partially closed while Missouri Department of Transportation officials review the impact the closure is having on nearby intersections.


MoDOT and state and local law enforcement agencies eliminated access to Route 54 from Osage Beach Parkway at the Key Largo intersection following a fatal crash there on April 29. The transportation department had held a community briefing on April 25 to discuss safety improvements to the intersection, where six crashes have occurred since Jan. 1. Permanently eliminating access to Route 54 from Osage Beach Parkway is one of the three options MoDOT is exploring.


"By eliminating the ability to turn left onto Route 54 from Osage Beach Parkway at this intersection, we've essentially stopped the traffic movement that was causing the crashes," said MoDOT Area Engineer Bob Lynch. "However, the closure also moves traffic to nearby intersections, so we want to review that impact before we make a permanent decision on the Key Largo crossing."


Lynch said the department received a number of comments at the community briefing asking MoDOT to examine all of the intersections on Route 54 between Routes KK and Y while studying options for the Key Largo intersection. MoDOT will enlist the help of city and county officials, local businesses and residents in the review. The agency will also conduct traffic counts at those intersections.


Counts taken at the Key Largo intersection in April showed the number of motorists making left-hand turns from Osage Beach Parkway onto Route 54 was more than double the amount expected.