Districts Impacted

Southwest
Counties Impacted
Greene
Route Impacted
44
Work Type
Corridor Upgrades
In Progress

Project Summary

The I-44 Corridor Upgrades in Greene County include lane widening, bridge replacement, and interchange improvements along the I-44 Corridor in the Springfield area to improve capacity along Interstate 44 between Kansas Expressway and U.S. Route 65. This project is part of the Forward 44 Planning Study.

Project Milestones

Public Meeting
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Crossway Baptist Church, 2900 N Barnes Ave, Springfield
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Public Meeting
Tuesday, February 2025, from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Crossway Baptist Church, 2900 N Barnes Ave, Springfield
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I-44 Widening Construction 2025-2026
Widening I-44 between Kansas Expressway and Route 65
Resurface I-44 west of Route 266 and east of U.S. Route 160
I-44 Sound Wall Construction
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Public Meeting
Summer 2025
Public Meeting for Melville Road Bridge Replacement Project over I-44
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Melville Road Bridge Replacement Construction
Summer/Fall 2025
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Public Meeting
Fall 2025
Public Meeting for Missouri Route 13/Kansas Expressway Interchange at I-44
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Public Meeting
Fall 2025
Public Meeting for Greene County Route EE/Division Street Bridge Rehab over I-44
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Construction 2027-2028
I-44 and Route 13/Kansas Expressway Intersection Improvements at I-44
Route EE/Division Street Bridge Rehab over I-44
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Project Information

  • Widening I-44 to 6 lanes between Missouri Route 13 (Kansas Expressway) and U.S. Route 65
  • Replace the following bridges carrying I-44 over city streets:
    • Broadway Avenue Bridge
    • Grant Avenue Bridge
    • National Avenue Bridge
  • Build pedestrian underpass and trail improvements east of Grant Avenue
  • Resurface I-44 between west of Missouri Route 266 (Chestnut Expressway) and east of U.S. Route 160 (West Bypass)
  • Build a sound wall south of I-44 from the National Avenue bridge west, approximately 2,550 feet

Traffic Impacts

  • Narrowed lanes, traffic shifts on I-44
  • I-44 will maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction, except for short-duration closures during nighttime hours
  • I-44 ramp closures
  • Road and bridge closures for the following locations:
    • Broadway Avenue closed up to 140 days
    • Grant Avenue closed up to 140 days
    • National Avenue closed up to 140 days
  • During higher traffic volume, drivers can expect delays

Future Projects

  • Build southbound Missouri Route 13 (Kansas Expressway) to eastbound I-44 flyover ramp
  • Norton Road interchange improvements and underpass
  • Replace the Melville Road bridge over I-44 (includes pedestrian accommodations)
  • Rehabilitate Route EE (Division Street) Bridge over I-44

NEWS RELEASES

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Project Files

Frequently Asked Questions:

When will the road closures take place?

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025, and finish at the end of 2026.  An exact schedule will not be available until a contractor is awarded the projects.  MoDOT encourages people to sign up for automated email alerts to receive active construction information.

Will Broadway, Grant and National be closed at the same time?

To accommodate traffic flow across I-44, at least one of these roads will be open at all times.  Traffic will be expected to use the open road, as well as Kansas Expressway and Glenstone Avenue.

Why are there not more sound walls being built?

A sound study is done whenever MoDOT adds through lanes, a new road or changes the alignment of a roadway.  We can only build walls in those locations where all criteria are met.  Additional information on the noise policy can be found here.

What type of pedestrian improvements will be constructed with this project?

Through a financial partnership with the City of Springfield and Greene County, a pedestrian underpass is being constructed to allow pedestrians to cross under I-44 east of Grant Avenue.  A shared use path will be constructed from an existing trail south of I-44 to Norton Road on the north side of I-44. 

The Melville Bridge Replacement project includes multi-use path improvements over the new bridge structure and sidewalk leading up to the bridge on the east side of Melville between Farm Road 112 and Norton Road. The bridge will be built to accommodate multi-use path improvements to support future trail connections to Melville providing another crossing of I-44. 

Is MoDOT purchasing property from landowners?

MoDOT will begin acquiring property for the Melville Bridge replacement project and the pedestrian underpass in the Spring of 2024.  Acquisition of property for the I-44/Kansas Expressway interchange will be at the end of 2025 and in 2026.  Additional information for the acquisition process can be found here.

Why is the Kansas Expressway (Route 13) Interchange not being constructed at the same time as the other projects?

The Route 13 Interchange Improvements are not currently included with the I-44 widening project because the interchange reconfiguration has many complexities that require addition time for planning and design. The project is currently planned for construction starting in FY 2027.

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Project Contacts

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Beth Schaller
Beth Schaller
Title
Area Engineer
Department
Southwest District
Contact Info
Ozarks Transportation Organization &
Southwest Missouri Council of Governments Areas:
Dallas, Polk, Webster, Greene, Dade, Lawrence,
Christian, Barry, Stone and Taney Counties
Email: Beth.Schaller@modot.mo.gov
Phone: (417) 529-4120
Contact Photo
Kristi Bachman
Kristi Bachman
Title
Forward 44 Southwest Project Director
Department
Southwest District
Contact Info

Email: Kristi.Bachman@modot.mo.gov
Phone: (417) 834-7171
Fax: (417) 895-7664