Heads up for drivers cruising through Kingdom City: the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced overnight single lane closures on Interstate 70, starting from tomorrow through March 31. The closures, affecting the driving (right) lane for both east and westbound directions between mile markers 147.4 and 148, are part of the preparation to dismantle the nearby railroad bridge, according to MoDOT’s announcement.
The work will occur nightly from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Saturday, weather permitting, of course, changes might happen but for now, that's the plan and it's all a piece of the larger "Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City" initiative; this $405 million beast of a project intends to beef up the I-70 corridor with an additional lane in each direction over 20 miles from U.S. Route 63 in Columbia to Route 54 in Kingdom City and not to forget it includes interchange boosts at routes 63 and 54, aiming for a late 2027 completion date, as per MoDOT.
MoDOT is playing the long game with this one, setting sights on a grand scheme of highway expansion under Missouri’s hefty $2.8 billion fiscal year 2024 budget, which will fund the third lane addition over nearly 200 miles of I-70 stretching from Blue Springs to Wentzville, so it's best to keep this on your radar; the "Improve I-70" program is a monumental effort to not just paste on extra lanes but also revamp the existing roadway, taking that road into the future.
Patience will be key for local commuters and cross-state travelers alike, as they should anticipate various lane closures and ongoing construction work through 2027, the highway is getting a major facelift and while that's a headache in the short term, it’s part of an overarching plan to enhance traffic flow and safety for the long haul MoDOT reminds drivers to "Buckle Up. Phone Down" in work zones, basic precautions could save lives, keep disruptions to a minimum, and ensure that everyone gets where they need to be, albeit with a bit of extra time tacked on for the duration.
