'A vital transportation corridor': Gov. Mike Parson signs bill for Interstate 70 expansion

Charles Dunlap, Columbia Daily Tribune
·2 min read
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Missouri lawmakers in May approved a budget that included $2.8 billion to expand Interstate 70 to six lanes across the entire state. All it needed was Gov. Mike Parson's signature.

A ceremony Tuesday in the Parkade Center parking lot facing I-70 led to just that. Parson was surrounded by lawmakers, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and other project representatives during the signing.

Writing about it later Tuesday on social media, Parson remarked, "I-70 is a vital transportation corridor in Missouri, connecting the state’s two largest cities and carrying more rural daily traffic than any other route in the state. The 260 miles of I-70 through Missouri have been an engine for economic growth and prosperity."

Gov. Mike Parson, seated, holds aloft a ceremonial copy of House Bill 4 on Tuesday surrounded by Missouri lawmakers, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and other representatives in the Parkade Center Parking lot that faces Interstate 70. Lawmakers approved a $2.8 billion expansion of I-70 in May. It was just awaiting Parson's signature.
Gov. Mike Parson, seated, holds aloft a ceremonial copy of House Bill 4 on Tuesday surrounded by Missouri lawmakers, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and other representatives in the Parkade Center Parking lot that faces Interstate 70. Lawmakers approved a $2.8 billion expansion of I-70 in May. It was just awaiting Parson's signature.

Before the bill signing only some Improve I-70 projects already had funding, such as the I-70 and U.S. Highway 63 connector project and the Cpl. Lance Cpl. Leon Deraps Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport. The first of two bridges under construction now is open, with the second expected to open by the end of 2024.

Improve I-70 is broken up into different sections for improvements. In the central part of the state, for example, projects will go from the Marshall junction to Kingdom City.

The Missouri Department of transportation will hold a series of meetings in communities across the Interstate 70 corridor starting Aug. 28. All meetings are open-house style, so there is no formal presentation, but guests can look at displays and ask questions of MoDOT representatives.

The I-70 expansion goes from about Blue Springs to Wentzville with additional improvement projects at exits and interchanges along the corridor. There are other projects to improve I-70 capacity in and around St. Louis and Kansas City separate from $2.8 billion appropriation in the state budget.

More: Columbia City Council submits letter to MoDOT regarding I-70 proposals. Here's what it says

MoDOT wants public feedback on the interstate's current condition, construction staging and other general comments. Those planning to attend the public meetings who have disabilities or who require special services are asked to call Improve I-70 Communications Coordinator Lairyn McGregor by Aug. 21 at 816-607-2152 to make service arrangements.

Comments are needed ahead of the design phase of the massive project. For those unable to attend meetings, MoDOT will start to take public comments through an online form starting Aug. 28 through Sept. 22.

Meetings in the central Missouri region are scheduled 5-7 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Battle High School Auxiliary Gym at 7575 St. Charles Road in Columbia and 5-7 p.m. at the Hannah Cole Primary School gym at 1700 W. Ashley Road in Boonville.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Gov. Mike Parson signs bill to expand Interstate 70 in Missouri