Overview

Interstate 44 is a vital east-west link across Missouri and to the nation. The corridor was completed in 1966, and in the decades since, has established itself as a route of statewide and national importance and a key freight corridor. Since the highway was built more than 50 years ago, evolving engineering standards and safety components mean many portions of I-44 have outdated design standards. The Missouri Department of Transportation is committed to bringing improvements to the corridor. That effort, called Forward 44, is ongoing in different stages across the state.

Missouri’s FY2024 budget from the General Assembly and signed into law by former Gov. Mike Parson provided $20 million of General Revenue for an environmental study of 253 miles of the I-44 corridor. This study was a critical step to preparing for future projects on I-44 as funding is available. Additional study is required across the corridor to environmentally clear the different segments of the corridor and have them ready for design and construction. MoDOT is committed to continuing that design and construction wherever possible as funding is available, and many improvement projects are underway across the corridor.

For a full list of the improvements underway and completed along I-44, visit the Forward 44 Projects page.