JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An upcoming traffic shift on Interstate 70 in Boone County, west of Columbia, will temporarily restrict westbound access to Boone County Route BB/Rocheport (Exit 115) and from U.S. Route 40/Midway (Exit 121). For several nights in mid-November, motorists will need to use an alternate route.
Construction crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation have completed building two new lanes of I-70 in the existing median between Route BB and U.S. 40. Crews now plan to start reconstructing the existing westbound lanes.
Overnight Tuesday, Nov. 17, westbound traffic is expected to be shifted onto the newly constructed lanes, separated from eastbound traffic with a temporary concrete barrier wall. During this shift, westbound I-70 will be narrowed to 10-foot lanes and speeds reduced to 55 mph. This configuration is anticipated to be in place through spring 2027.
As part of the traffic switch, westbound on- and off-ramps at the following exits will temporarily close to allow crews to adjust pavement height differences and safely move traffic into the new configuration:
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Westbound I-70 ramp to Route BB (Exit 115): Closed 7 p.m. Nov. 17 to 6 a.m. Nov. 18.
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U.S. Route 40 to westbound I-70 (Exit 121): Closed 7 p.m. Nov. 17 to 6 a.m. Nov. 19.
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 one project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program, Improve I-70: Rocheport to Columbia, which will add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 14-mile stretch of I-70 between the Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport and approximately U.S. Route 63 in Columbia. This $441 million fixed-cost contract includes new pavement on all three lanes of I-70 and will also make interchange improvements at Route J/O, Midway (Route 40), Stadium Blvd., Business Loop 70, Providence Rd., Rangeline St., and U.S. Route 63.
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-mails, 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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