Construction to start on I-70/Highway 63 interchange in about one month
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia drivers can expect to see construction on the Interstate 70-Highway 63 Interchange as soon as next month, according to the Improve I-70 project director.
Governor Mike Parson kickstarted the first construction project in MoDOT's statewide Improve I-70 program Thursday morning. This project will a third lane of travel in each direction to Interstate 70 between Highway 63 in Columbia and Highway 54 in Kingdom City. In addition to the added lane the project will also make interchange improvements at the I-70 interchanges at both Highway 63 and Highway 54, according to a MoDOT press release.
The state's fiscal year 2024 budget from the General Assembly signed into law by Gov. Parson provided $2.8 billion in General Revenue for the cost to build a third lane. The overall Improvement plane for I-70 us to add a third lane in each direction across the state from Blue Springs to Wentzville.
The first part of the interstate expansion will be from Columbia to Kingdom City, it will cost $405 million. Improve I-70 Project Director Eric Kopinski said construction in Columbia will start with the interchange, and then in six months to one year crews will start working on adding the extra lane to I-70.
Construction in Columbia is expected to last until December 2027. Kopinski said crews will work overnight to limit traffic impacts, but some larger disruptions may happen.
"We are doing our best to limit these impacts," Kopinski said. "And then more importantly, we're doing everything we can do to start going, because the quicker we can add that third lane, the better it is for everybody."
As Gov. Mike Parson prepares to step down from his position at the helm of the state, he hopes to be remembered for this historic investment in Missouri's infrastructure.
"We've talked about six lanes on I-70 ever since I can remember," Parson said. "And now you're going to get to see that become reality. What we're doing in infrastructure in this state is going to set us apart from many, many other states."
Many members of the community came out to celebrate the groundbreaking, from the Boone County Commission, the Columbia mayor and local lawmakers, including Rep. Adrian Plank (D-Columbia). Plank said he hopes the state continues to invest in infrastructure, and not just big projects like Improve I-70.
"That will drive more business," Plank said. "That'll drive more infrastructure, which drives more work."
