JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Motorists traveling westbound Interstate 70 should expect a traffic shift later this month as construction continues on the Improve I-70: Boonville to Rocheport project.
The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor are currently planning to shift westbound I-70 traffic into the newly constructed lanes overnight during the week of Oct. 19. These lanes were constructed in the median between east and westbound traffic. An exact date for the traffic shift will be announced once the schedule is finalized.
With the new third lane of traffic completed on the westernmost portion of the project, westbound traffic will shift onto the new lanes from west of Missouri Route 5 (Exit 101) at Boonville to east of Missouri Route 87.
As part of the traffic switch, ramps at Exits 101, 103 (Cooper County Route B) and 106 (Missouri Route 87) will be closed temporarily to allow crews to adjust for pavement height differences between the new lanes and existing lanes and safely move traffic into the new configuration. The pavement height difference at each ramp will determine the length of the ramp closures, though all are expected to reopen within one to two days after the traffic shift Eastbound I-70 traffic will remain in its current configuration and eastbound exits are expected to remain open.
The westbound rest area will also be affected by the traffic switch. The rest area is expected to close up to two days before the traffic switch to ensure all vehicles are cleared prior to the configuration changes. Signs placed at the rest area will alert motorists of the planned closure.
Additional information about specific ramp and crossover closures, as well as the exact date and timing of the traffic switch, will be provided as the schedule is finalized.
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 fifth project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program, Improve I-70: Boonville to Rocheport, which will add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 13-mile stretch of I-70 between Boonville and Rocheport. This $104 million design-bid-build project includes plans to widen two I-70 bridges, one over the Union Pacific Railroad at mile markers 113, and one just west of the Lance Corporal Leon Deraps I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport.
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.
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