Improve I-70 East (Montgomery, Warren and Western St Charles counties)
I-70 is a vital lifeline for moving people, goods and information across Missouri and beyond. This interstate was constructed more than 50 years ago. It was most recently evaluated through an Environmental Impact Study in the mid-2000s.
The Missouri Department of Transportation is re-evaluating the findings of that 2005 Interstate 70 Environmental Study by reviewing more than 30 miles of I-70 in Montgomery County, Warren County, and western St Charles County. The re-evaluation is necessary to identify changes to existing road conditions, possible solutions, potential impacts, and related mitigation measures since the environmental work was done nearly 20 years ago.
As work to update the Environmental Impact Statement wraps up, Improve I-70 Warrenton to Wentzville has transitioned to a Design-Build project. For more information about the Warrenton to Wentzville section of Improve I-70, please click here.
Public hearings scheduled for second Improve I-70 project from Warrenton to Wentzville
JEFFERSON CITY – The public is invited to public hearings regarding the Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville project from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, in Warrenton, and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, in Wentzville. This is the second construction project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program and will add a third lane of travel in each direction to Interstate 70 from Warrenton to Wentzville. The Warrenton to Wentzville project includes the Improve I-70 funding and additional legislatively designated General Revenue funding. It also includes previously allocated funds in the state’s program for other I-70 and I-64 projects for a total contract cost of $600 million.
These meetings will highlight the basic design plans, construction phasing, schedule, and other detailed information about the project. Construction is expected to start in Spring 2025 and be completed by late 2028.
The open house-style hearings will provide the opportunity for nearby residents, businesses, and travelers to learn about and provide comments regarding the planned improvements. No formal presentation will be made. The public can attend the meetings any time between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The information will be the same at each meeting location. Engineers from the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Improve 70 Alliance contractor team of Emery Sapp and Sons, Clarkson Construction, HNTB, and Bartlett and West will be on hand to answer questions.
Written and recorded oral statements and exhibits can be submitted at the hearing. People can also review materials and make comments on the project website beginning on Monday, Feb. 3, at www.modot.org/improvei70/warrentonwentzville. All comments must be received by Thursday, March 6.
The meeting details and locations are:
- Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Warrenton High School Commons Area located at 803 Pinckney St. Warrenton, MO 63383.
- Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Progress Park Recreation Center located at 968 Meyer Rd. Wentzville, MO 63385.
The planned improvements from contractor team includes:
- Constructing a third lane in each direction on I-70 from Warrenton to I-64 in Wentzville, including replacing the existing I-70 lanes with new full-depth concrete pavement.
- Interchange improvements at I-70 and the I-64/Route 61 interchange.
- Interchange and outer road improvements in Foristell, Wright City, Warrenton, and at Route Z.
- Realignment at the railroad bridge on I-70 between Wentzville Parkway and Route Z.
- Addition of a third lane of travel to eastbound and westbound I-64 between I-70 and Route K.
- The team has also committed to keeping two lanes of travel open on I-70 in both directions during peak travel times.
Missouri’s FY2024 budget from the General Assembly signed into law by Governor Parson provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue for the costs 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.
At the public hearing, MoDOT will also have displays regarding bridge and interchange improvements planned at Exit 188, Routes A and B, and Exit 183, Routes E and Y at Jonesburg. The improvements at these locations were funded through MoDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) prior to receiving the I-70 General Revenue funds. The projects are anticipated to be awarded in March 2025 with construction occurring in 2025 and 2026.
People with disabilities who require special services or other reasonable accommodations at the public hearing should notify Project Communications Coordinator Lairyn McGregor at 816-607-2152 by Monday, Jan. 27, so arrangements for those services can be made.
What’s Happening?
There is currently funding in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to design bridge work around High Hill in Montgomery County to prepare for future funding. This work requires the older environmental findings to be re-evaluated. The full environmental section will get updated through the three counties so any other future funded work in this section will be ready for future steps of design and construction as funding is available.
The re-evaluation of the environmental study for Montgomery, Warren and western St Charles counties will take until summer 2024.
What is an Environmental Study Re-Evaluation?
An environmental study re-evaluation is a process to review the environmental impact categories and commitments to ensure that any recent changes to the corridor are incorporated into the document.
During the current phase of work these are the primary goals:
- Re-evaluate potential impacts of the previously determined preferred alternative, current conditions and related mitigation measures that may have changed.
- Engage with stakeholders to provide a project status and update previous feedback.
- Prepare the project to move forward into design.
Previous Tier II Section 7 Documents
In this section you'll find Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements as well as the Record of Decision.
Public Input
Property owners along I-70 may be contacted starting in February 2023 for field work and technical analysis and other input.
Public input will be an important part of the study. By summer 2023, MoDOT will offer multiple opportunities for public input including surveys, public meetings, and collaboration with stakeholders.
Anytime, customers have a comment or questions, they can submit those to: improvei70east@modot.mo.gov
All public input opportunities will be posted well in advance through local media and on the project website at www.modot.org/improvei70east