Conley Road extension could divert traffic from I-70, Highway 63 interchange

Construction on an extension of Conley Road to East Boulevard could mean a traffic diversion from the I-70 and Highway 63 interchange in east Columbia.

“It makes no sense for residents to go across town by using an interstate,” said Carrie Gartner, executive director of the Business Loop Community Improvement District. “It’s more dangerous and it’s better to take surface streets.”

Gartner said Monday that the new extension fits into their new plan to improve the Business Loop 70 corridor because it would bring more drivers down the road.

“Instead of taking I-70 to get across town, it will be much easier for people from Conley shops to just head down the Business Loop,” she said. “Our corridor is great for Saturday morning retail.”

The Conley Road extension has been several years in the making. In 2005, the city created the Conley Road Transportation Development District. For the past decade, the TDD has been collecting sales tax money from business like Wal-mart and Lowes to fund the project.

The TDD’s director, Robert Green, said the road extension began in June and should be completed in June 2018.

Green is also the director of property management with the Kroenke Group, which owns the Broadway Marketplace off Conley.

He said the road connection could take some pressure off the interchange, which sees tens of thousands of cars on a daily basis.