Heads up, Bay Area commuters and road-trippers heading through central Missouri: a significant traffic adjustment is coming your way on I-70 near Kingdom City. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is gearing up for a culvert replacement at Sallees Creek, which means parts of I-70 will temporarily reroute to adjacent outer roads next week. As reported by Missouri Department of Transportation, the shift will take place overnight tomorrow for eastbound lanes and Tuesday for westbound lanes, each moving to its respective outer road.
Expect two lanes to remain open in both directions during this period, but also anticipate potential slowdowns. The necessary move is part of a broader initiative to spruce up a 20-mile stretch between Columbia and Kingdom City, which promises to add a third lane and enhance interchange functionality. Missouri Department of Transportation reminds drivers 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 construction activity is the opening act of the Statewide Improve I-70 Program. An ambitious endeavor, it's supported by Missouri's FY2024 budget which earmarks a generous $2.8 billion from the General Revenue for the expansion of I-70. The vision: add a third lane to nearly 200 miles of this critical interstate corridor, stretching from Blue Springs all the way to Wentzville.
The scale and cost of the project are impressive to say the least. The Columbia to Kingdom City stretch alone involves a $405 million fixed-cost contract to lay new pavement for all three lanes and overhaul interchanges at U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 54.
