State highway officials broke ground Monday for the widening of nearly seven miles of U.S. 50 in Osage County, from the U.S. 63 junction to west of Linn. The $25.5 million project is scheduled to be completed by September 2014.

U.S. 50 is the primary alternative to I-70 in central Missouri. The highway is currently a four-lane road between Sedalia and the Kansas City area, and on either side of Jefferson City.

But even after the newest project is completed, there still will be 91 miles of two-lane road on U.S. 50. The Missouri Department of Transportation says there is no funding available for an additional expansion of the highway.

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