Section 1 is the westernmost section of the I-70 study corridor. It stretches between I-470, near Independence, and Highway 131 in Odessa.
This Jackson County section of I-70 includes rapidly growing areas, including Blue Springs, Oak Grove and Grain Valley. Once rural communities, they are now centers for business, transit and truck operations, and new housing.
Begin: Independence, I-470, Exit 15
End: Odessa, Route 131, Exit 37
Length: 24 miles
Study: Environmental Assessment (EA)
Increased traffic demands are one of the critical elements of Improve I-70 in this area, as is coordinating with the I-70 Major Investment Study (MIS), which explored options for improving I-70 between Jackson County’s eastern boundary and the downtown loop in Kansas City, Missouri.
Further west in Lafayette County lies Odessa, home of a local outlet mall. Increased traffic on this stretch of I-70 raises critical issues relative to its redesign and reconstruction, including maintenance of traffic and potential impacts to businesses. The Section 1 team will be working closely with communities, businesses and residents to address the needs for access, traffic capacity, and safety for the traveling public.
Draft Environmental Assessment
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Draft Cover, Table of Contents, Summary (793k)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Purpose and Need (265k)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Alternatives Considered (939k)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibit II-1 (1.5MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibit II-2 (1.3MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibit II-3 (1.2MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibit II-4 (1.0MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibit II-5 (2.0MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Affected Environment (230k)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibits III-1 through III-10 (912k)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibits III-11 through III-14 (1.4MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Environmental Consequences (263k)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibits IV-1 through IV-4 (2.3MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibits IV-5 through IV-8 (2.5MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibits IV-9 through IV-12 (2.6MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Exhibits IV-13 through IV-17 (2.6MB)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Comments and Coordination (133k)
- Improve I-70 Section 1 Preliminary Section 4(f) Applicability Evaluation
- Improve I-70 Section 1 List of Preparers, Circulation List
- Improve I-70 Section 1 References and Glossary (71k)