Business Loop interchange in Columbia opens

The new Business Loop interchange is expected to open by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday . The closure began 45 days ago meaning the contractor, Emery Sapp and Sons, hit their deadline. The contractor says outside of small miscellaneous projects like landscaping, the construction is complete.

The biggest change to the new interchange is the replacement of the intersection at the Business Loop and I-70 Drive Southwest. A MoDOT engineer says the roundabout is a safer alternative to the intersection.

“You see a lot more severe accidents at a signal because folks are at right angles,” Travis Koestner said.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crash reports, there were 12 crashes in the interchange area since January of 2011. Four of those crashes were injury crashes.

The opening of the dual-lane roundabout marks the completion of all major construction work for the I70 bridge project. The $18 million bridge project began last August.

MoDOT has a number of tips for navigating a dual-lane roundabout posted on their website. There are three key tips to keep in mind:

1) Watch your speed as your entering the roundabout. Roundabouts are designed for speeds of around 20 MPH.

2) Yield to all lanes.

3) Choose your appropriate lane based on which way you’re going. If you’re turning right, use the right lane, and if you’re turning left or making a U-turn, use the left lane.

MoDOT says the bridge replacement project will likely finish well ahead of the October 1st deadline.