Double roundabout at Rangeline and I-70 now open

The double roundabout interchange at Rangeline and I-70 opened Monday.

The so-called “dogbone” interchange, which opened to traffic at 6 a.m., consists of two tear-shaped roundabouts that join together to form a single roundabout.

“This particular design will run more efficiently than a signalized intersection, as was here prior to (its construction). More vehicles will be able to get through this in a certain amount of time,” Danny Roeger with Missouri Department of Transportation said.

MoDOT says the roundabout is expected to improve safety and traffic flow. In fact, roundabouts can reduce traffic collisions by up to 75 percent.

“It’s a huge safety increase. It eliminates the T-bone accident that you’ll see if someone run a red light and get T-boned. It eliminates that movement,” Roeger said.

As a reminder, the offramps at the interchange and eastbound I-70 onramps are open but the westbound I-70 onramp is closed.

The Range Line roundabout in part of a much larger $18 million bridge project. MoDOT is also replacing bridges and installing roundabouts on the Business Loop and Garth Avenue. The entire project is expected to be completed in September.