The West Bypass along its entire length through Springfield will be completed as a four-lane expressway by the fall of 2007.

Widening to four lanes between Chestnut Expressway and Kearney Street near I-44 began in February 2006. It's the last of four projects along the West Bypass, or U.S. 160, dating back to 1998.

Drivers on Springfield's west side will have a four-lane, north-south corridor to use between I-44 on the north and the James River Freeway (U.S. 60/160) on the south.

The newest section of four-lane roadway north of Chestnut Expressway will contain designated left-turn lanes at intersections and many other locations.

The final project was immediately preceded by construction of a new railroad bridge with a span long enough to accommodate four lanes underneath. The bridge, located between Nichols and Divisions streets, was built in 2003, replacing an old bridge. Two remaining railroad bridges no longer in use have been removed.

Much of the West Bypass widening has been done under a unique funding/planning partnership between MoDOT and the City of Springfield. The city used money from a 1/8-cent sales tax for transportation to make it possible to start the project, with MoDOT later paying the principal amount needed.

The Chestnut Expressway-to-Kearney Street project is being paid for through MoDOT's normal funding process. Estimated cost: $12.8 million.

Expected Traffic Impacts:
• Short sections of road closed WEEKENDS ONLY to remove the old railroad bridges and install drain pipes.
• Periodic traffic disruptions are possible when intersections and business entrances are rebuilt.
• A lane of traffic may be closed at times.

Project Timeline:

• 1930s – Parts of West Bypass built, with first section completed in 1935 between Chestnut Expressway and Kearney Street

• 1952 – New section of West Bypass built between Chestnut Expressway and Sunshine Street; first section resurfaced

• 1978 – West Bypass resurfaced between Kearney and Sunshine streets

• 1992 – West Bypass resurfaced between Kearney and Sunshine streets

• 1998 – West Bypass widened to four lanes between Chestnut Expressway and Sunshine Street

• 2000 – Four-lane West Bypass extended between Sunshine Street and James River Freeway

• 2003 – New railroad bridge built across West Bypass between Nichols and Division streets

• Spring 2006 to Late 2007 – West Bypass widened between Chestnut Expressway and Kearney Street

For more information, contact our Springfield District Office at 417-895-7600 or 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).

Last updated: September 2007.