Improve I-70 Program: Lanes to close on U.S. Route 63, I-70 in Columbia

As a part of the Improve I-70 Program, lanes are scheduled to close on U.S. Route 63 and Interstae 70 in Columbia, all the way to Kingdon City.

The work will begin on Wednesday, April 17, in both directions on sections of the interstate and Route 63.

According to a press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), this work will require the following intermittent closures of a single lane:

"Crews will reduce northbound and southbound Route 63 to ONE LANE in each direction between approximately Broadway and I-70 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily beginning on Wednesday, April 17, through Monday, April 22. One lane of traffic will remain open in each direction at all times.

Crews will have nightly intermittent lane closures along both eastbound and westbound I-70 at approximately mile marker 129.6, just east of Route 63 in Columbia from 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. each evening beginning on Monday, April 22, through Friday, April 26. One lane of traffic will be open in each direction at all times.

Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City includes new concrete pavement on all three lanes of I-70 in each direction for the 20-mile section between Columbia and Kingdom City and improved interchange designs at the U.S. 63 and U.S. 54 interchanges at I-70. Additionally, the first awarded contract proposal includes:

Improvements at the U.S. 63 and I-70 interchange:

Two new direct connection ramps (northbound U.S. 63 to westbound I-70 and eastbound I-70 to southbound U.S. 63)

Four new roundabouts

Improvements at the U.S. 54 and I-70 interchange with two new bridges and a new and improved interchange."

This work is a part of the first project in MoDOT's Statewide Improve I-70 Program. Borings let workers look at subsurface conditions, which then allows the designers to choose designs and material elements for the engineering plans to expand I-70 to three lanes in each direction.

Construction on the first section of the interstate, from Columbia to Kingdom City, is scheduled to start during summer 2024. It is expected to be finished in late 2027.

The press release went on to say: "Missouri’s FY2024 budget from the General Assembly signed into law by Governor Parson provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue for the costs to build a third lane of I-70 across the state. The program will plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate and add a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville."