New U.S. Route 63 underpass in Columbia now open

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The traveling public now has a new way to access the Interstate 70/U.S. Route 63 connector in Columbia. The newly constructed U.S. Route 63 underpass from Conley Road opened to all traffic Monday evening, March 16.  

Construction crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation began constructing the underpass in October 2024 by building two new bridges on U.S. Route 63. This new access point, located across from the entrance between IHOP and Panda Express, is designed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion by providing an additional route to access the Connector. 

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-updates, 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

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