Drivers in Missouri should prepare for detours and slower traffic as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) begins lane closures on Interstates 70 and 64. These closures, necessary for survey work connected to the expansive Improve I-70 Project #2, are scheduled to start the week on Sunday and will affect various segments of the highways on Sunday through Thursday nights, according to MoDOT's announcement.
In Warren County, starting on Sunday, MoDOT has planned to close one lane eastbound and one lane westbound on I-70 between Route MM and Route 47 in Warrenton from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the same lane closures will apply from Route 47 to Wright City from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Nightly, from Wright City to Foristell, closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. As MoDOT officials asserted, conducting these surveys is a step towards improving highway infrastructure and traffic flow. All the closures and work are subject to the whims of weather.
St. Charles County will see similar disruptions with I-64 experiencing closures starting on Sunday, where one eastbound lane between I-70 and Route K will shut down nightly from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., and one westbound lane from Route K to I-70 will be inaccessible from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. The following week on I-70 in St. Charles County, one lane east and west will be closed between Foristell and Wentzville Parkway, and from Wentzville Parkway to Route A, these will occur nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., respectively.
This necessary prep work comes before the major construction set to begin in 2025. Lasting until 2028, the Improve I-70 Project #2 aims to address the eastern section of I-70 stretching from Warrenton to Wentzville. With the Governor's signature sealing a budget provision, $2.8 billion in General Revenue has been earmarked for the upgrade of nearly 200 miles of this vital artery, making room for a third lane to span from Blue Springs to Wentzville, as per the details shared by MoDOT. By the project's completion, drivers can look forward to a more spacious and efficient I-70.
Motorists are encouraged to stay informed on the latest closures and modifications to their routes by checking in with MoDOT's official channels. Through the inconveniences of construction, the promise of an enhanced travel experience on one of Missouri's key highways looms on the horizon.
