JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A traffic shift on Interstate 70 in Columbia between Boone County Route B (Paris Road) and U.S. Route 63 is anticipated to begin next week. Motorists are advised to slow down, use extra caution, and follow posted signage.
Construction crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation have completed building a portion of the new lanes in the median between east and westbound I-70 and now plan to start reconstructing the existing eastbound lanes. To do this, eastbound traffic will be shifted onto the newly constructed lanes starting the night of Tuesday, July 8. Two eastbound lanes will be open for motorists to travel on, with speeds reduced to 55 mph.
As part of this traffic shift, the eastbound I-70 ramp to U.S. Route 63 will temporarily close. Starting the night of July 8, there will be no access from the ramp from eastbound I-70 to U.S. Route 63. The ramp is expected to reopen the morning of July 12. During this temporary closure, motorists will need to use an alternative route. Those traveling from west of Columbia will be directed to use Missouri Route 740 (Stadium Boulevard) to southbound U.S. Route 63, while all other travelers will be directed to exit at Missouri Route 763 (Range Line Street).
All work is weather-permitting and subject to change.
MoDOT asks all motorists 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 work is part of the first project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program, Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City, which will add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 20-mile stretch of I-70 between Columbia and Kingdom City. This $405 million fixed-cost contract includes new pavement on all three lanes of I-70 and will also make interchange improvements to the I-70 interchanges at U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 54.
Missouri’s FY2024 budget, approved through the state legislative process and governor, provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue to build a third lane of I-70 across the state. The program will plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and add a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville. For more information on the Improve I-70 Program and to sign up for program e-updates, visit http://www.modot.org/improvei70.
For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.
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