JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Motorists traveling Interstate 70 from Route J (mile marker 137) to Callaway County Route M/Hatton (mile marker 144) are doing so on new pavement. This marks a major milestone in the Improve I-70 statewide project as the first completed segment along the corridor.
Overnight Thursday, Nov. 6, construction crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation shifted westbound I-70 traffic out of the median and onto the newly paved westbound lanes. The westbound access to Route J at Exit 137 (Millersburg) was reopened at the same time.
For the safety of the traveling public and crews working on the ground, this completed section of I-70 will remain two lanes in each direction while construction is ongoing to both the east and west.
Crews continue to build the permanent concrete barrier that will separate the three westbound lanes from the three eastbound lanes. The barrier wall is anticipated to be completed later this month.
All work is weather-permitting and subject to change.
MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.
This work is part of the first project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program, Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City, which will add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 20-mile stretch of I-70 between Columbia) and Kingdom City. This $405 million fixed-cost contract includes new pavement on all three lanes of I-70 and will also make interchange improvements to the I-70 interchanges at U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 54.
Missouri’s FY2024 budget, approved through the state legislative process and governor provides, $2.8 billion in General Revenue to build a third lane of I-70 across the state. The program will plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and add a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville. For more information on the Improve I-70 Program and to sign up for program e-mails, visit http://www.modot.org/improvei70.
For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.
###
