Motorists in the Gallatin and Hamilton areas will soon encounter lane closures on Highway 13 as crews begin preparing the road for a resurfacing project. Herzog Contracting of St. Joseph will be doing the work.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said milling work is to begin in Gallatin this week (Thursday or Friday), or possibly "early next week". The pavement overlay portion of the project is expected to be completed in mid-August.

Gallatin City Administrator Zac Johnson told the Board of Aldermen on Monday night that the city will be paying $14,500 to Herzog to complete three blocks of shoulders along Highway 13 from the post office to the ShopKo building. Herzog plans to BID on additional streets at Gallatin, including Olive, West Grand, and Park Streets.

Herzog will be doing milling work on Highway 13 and Business Highway 36 in Hamilton, with lane closures anticipated. That portion of the project is expected to begin late NEXT week with the pavement overlay work to be finished by late August.

Milling is where the contractor removes a portion of the top surface of existing asphalt to create a clean joint. The process ensures a smoother driving surface when the pavement is overlayed. MoDOT said the milling and paving phases will cause "temporary parking issues" in the downtown areas of both Gallatin and Hamilton.