Drivers who frequent Interstate 70 around Foristell should gear up for some nighttime disruptions next week. From November 18 to 21, all eastbound and westbound lanes at the Route T/W Foristell interchange will be closed intermittently overnight, as MoDOT sets about installing bridge girders for the I-70 project. These oversized steel beams necessitate big cranes, and the heavy lifting is going up and over the highway—so full stops it is, for safety's sake. Closures will happen for 15-minute spans between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with one lane closing before the other follows, according to an announcement from MoDOT.
The girder installation is just one step in the extensive Improve I-70 Warrenton to Wentzville Project, which kicked off this year and isn't penciled in to wrap until 2028. This project isn't just a cosmetic touch-up. Slated to add a third lane in each direction across nearly 200 miles from Blue Springs to Wentzville, this is a concrete behemoth aiming to transform Missouri's stretch of I-70. And the funding fueling it? A hefty $2.8 billion from the state's FY2024 budget, which, with the governor’s signature dried on the law, is now bankrolling the colossal construction effort.
For locals and cross-state travelers alike, the temporary closures are poised to be more than a slight hiccup. However, MoDOT promises that the inconvenience is a mere trade-off for the eventual streamlined flow of traffic on a more spacious, accommodating I-70. The endeavor as a whole, which was awarded in November last year, covers the eastern portion of I-70, setting sights on a major overhaul that will not just refurbish but reimagine this crucial artery of Heartland conveyance.
