MoDOT planning to close Business Loop on-ramp to eastbound I-70
The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning to permanently close the Business Loop 70 on-ramp to eastbound Interstate 70.
MoDOT said the closure would be part of the overall improvements currently under construction at Conley Road and Business Loop 70.
MoDOT area engineer Mike Schupp said the on-ramp is simply too dangerous. He said the biggest problem is that drivers are trying to merge onto I-70 at the same time drivers are trying to exit at the 63 connector.
“For years we’ve known that this is a trouble spot,” he said. “Anytime you have that weaving motion of traffic-we know it’s a safety concern.”
MoDOT is not planning to build a new on-ramp in its place. Instead, drivers will have to take the Business Loop to Conley to the connector, or drivers can use the Rangeline, Providence or West Boulevard interchanges.
“The accident numbers are reduced so drastically that it’s worth a little more of an inconvenience for someone’s drive time,” Schupp said.
The public is invited to provide comments on the ramp closures online or by writing to MoDOT Central District at 1511 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO 65109.
The department said it will notify the public in advance of the ramp closure. Schupp said the goal is to close the on-ramp in July when the Conley extension project is complete.
