Roadwork by Mall Now Underway

Construction begins tonight to renovate the intersection of I-70 and Stadium Boulevard. A small business owner said he’s been in the area for 43 years and has yet to see any plan really put into place. But MoDOT and the City of Columbia have finally committed to one plan they hope keeps drivers safe and eases traffic flow. “The intent is to facilitate traffic movement through the area, make it a little safer and to, as we say, accommodate the locals there and the traffic and businesses over there,” MoDOT resident engineer Charles Sullivan said. With the new traffic pattern, cars will no longer have to cross traffic when making the turn onto the I-70 ramp. Instead, cars will be diverted to what will feel like the wrong side of the road to make the turn.MoDOT expects the new plan to help reduce the number of accidents.”When traffic enters from an on-off ramps where you are actually entering from from the left or right versus stop and cross in front of traffic from an opposing direction,” Sullivan said. Six other diamond interchanges have been built around the state. MoDOT officials say they are effective and many residents approve the change. Alex Aslanidis from G&D Steakhouse is optimistic about the improvements. “Overall I think it will help alleviate, it help them do what they want to do- get rid of the excess flow of traffic from,” he said.