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On Aug. 14 and 15, Gov. Mike Parson traveled across the state for public ceremonial signings of House Bill 4, which includes General Revenue funding for the Interstate 70 expansion program.
Gov. Parson, Senate Appropriations Chair Lincoln Hough, industry partners as well as MoDOT and Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission officials spoke about the importance of this landmark legislation at events with statewide and local officials in Foristell, Oak Grove and Columbia.
This new legislation will allow for the expansion of I-70 across the entire state to add a third lane in each direction. The $2.8 billion plan is expected to ease congestion on the heavily traveled interstate between Kansas City and St. Louis. It will affect a 200-mile stretch of I-70 from Blue Springs to Wentzville.
I-70 serves at least 70% of the state population, carries 5 billion tons in agricultural products across Missouri and generates $6 billion in economic activity.
One of the first steps is to complete the re-evaluation of environmental documents from the mid-2000s. These updates include reviewing traffic volumes and patterns, land use, and conditions. All of these re-evaluations should be completed by late summer 2024
MoDOT’s Improve I-70 team is also working with partners in the construction industry and engineering design to determine the best way to schedule the work to sequence project delivery based on traffic impacts and industry capacity to get the best value. A draft schedule of the sequencing of projects is being shared at public meetings starting Aug. 28, but the exact dates for construction to begin on each segment are yet to be determined. It's expected the first construction project could start in summer 2024 with the goal of all the work being completed in approximately 2030, dependent upon contractor and material availability.
There will be seven public meetings across the state between Aug. 28 and Sept. 7. The open house meeting dates, times and locations are as follows:
Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 - 4-6 p.m.
Wentzville City Hall Board of Alderman Meeting Room, located at 1001 Schroeder Creek Boulevard, Wentzville, MO.
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023 - 4-6 p.m.
Warren County Administration Building, located at 101 Mockingbird Lane, Warrenton, MO.
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 - 4-6 p.m.
Concordia Community Center, located at 802 S. Gordon Street, Concordia, MO.
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 - 5-7 p.m.
Jonesburg Elementary School Gym, located 106 Smith Rd., Jonesburg, MO.
Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 - 4-6 p.m.
Jackson County Fire Protection District Education Center, located at 4715 W U.S. 40 Highway, Blue Springs, MO.
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 - 5-7 p.m.
Battle High School Auxiliary Gym, located at 7575 St. Charles, Rd., Columbia, MO.
Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 - 5-7 p.m.
Hannah Cole Primary School Gym, located at 1700 W. Ashley Rd., Boonville, MO.
For those who are unable to attend a meeting in person, an online comment form is available at modot.org/improvei70/public-involvement. The comment period online will be open from Monday, Aug. 28, through Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
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