Improve I-70 Program
Over recent years, traveling across Missouri has become increasingly challenging due to the rise in vehicles and accidents between St. Louis and Kansas City. This has intensified the need for substantial enhancements to Interstate 70. The House, Senate, and Governor Parson have authorized the most significant investment in Missouri’s transportation network, allocating $2.8 billion in the recent state budget for capacity enhancements on I-70. These upgrades will introduce a third travel lane in both directions between Blue Springs (Kansas City) and Wentzville (St. Louis). In addition to these improvements, MoDOT is exploring potential augmentations within the budget, encompassing road, bridge, safety, and technology enhancements, while focusing on maximizing return on investment.
Following the funding of the Improve I-70 Program, MoDOT organized statewide public meetings at seven chosen locations. Attendees received project updates and had their concerns addressed, notably regarding property impacts. MoDOT clarified that most of the 200-mile enhancement would occur within existing rights-of-way. MoDOT has also engaged with industry professionals. The inaugural project between Columbia and Kingdom City is slated as a design-build initiative, with construction expected by Summer 2024. Further industry meetings will precede each project’s procurement phase. For more on the Improve I-70 Program, visit www.modot.org/improvei70.
The tentative schedule for the Improve I-70 project has been released to industry partners and the public. Early projects for the schedule were based on locations where a significant amount of early work had already been completed.
Industry partners and MoDOT joined Governor Parson and other elected officials in a ceremonious budget bill signing in St. Charles County on August 14, 2023.