MO I-64 westward extension

[treichard]

Is the west end of I-64 still at Exit 9 in Missouri, or has there been FHWA/AASHTO approval to extend it to I-70 or partway there?

I noticed on Google Maps Street View that I-64 mile markers are posted west of Exit 9 and that much of the construction is done.  I couldn't find a project site on the MO DOT's web site, so I wondered if the construction is complete for the whole stretch or if I'm a poor searcher.

[Revive 755]

Last I heard construction was still taking place on the Prospect Road interchange with completion in the fall.  Until that interchange is done, I-64 still semi-officially ends at Rte K/Exit 9; at least I've heard MoDOT is going to wait and extend west to I-70 in one burst instead of first to Lake St. Louis Blvd and then to I-70.

Once the extension is done, it's going to be interesting to see how long before MoDOT gets to go back and six lane it from Rte K to I-70 - which I believe was supposed to be done originally but fell victim to cost cutting.

[Sykotyk]

Last time I was on that stretch (from I-70 to I-270), they had I-64 mile markers (and signage for I-64) even though there's still one more intersection left just east of I-70.

Sykotyk

[Revive 755]

Went WB on US 40 recently from I-270; there is a lone, neutered I-64 shield on the assembly just after the Rte DD interchange, otherwise the mile markers are the only sign that I-64 goes farther west than Rte K.

The Prospect Road interchange seems to be taking forever; the overpass is still lacking any beams.

[Revive 755]

There's an even better photo op at the top of the ramp with a somewhat identical overhead followed by an assembly with a To I-64 shield centered over shields for US 40 and US 61.  All of the advanced signs for this interchange also have I-64.

The beams are up for the Prospect Road overpass.

[Edited to fix poor wording]

[rmsandw]

I drove through I-64 last month before I headed back to No IL and the "End I-64" sign has been removed.  The markers along the road leave room for the O-64 shield to be posted.  At the I-64/70 Wentsville interchage, I-70 id's the road as I-64.  There is, as mentioned above, one interchagne before I-70 left to build.  If I had more time I would have turned around, they have two sign errors there.  Both are markers for Hwy. 40, one on a state marker and the other on a Sec. State makrer.

[Revive 755]

Ribbon cutting and final signal removal around the Prospect Road interchange October 14:
http://www.modot.org/stlouis/news_and_information/RibbonCuttings.htm

The line about US 40-61 be designated as I-64 between I-70 and I-270 after Federal approval is interesting; seems MoDOT should have been using future shields like North Carolina does.

[leifvanderwall]

It would be great if I-64 would be extended onto US 61 to Hannibal ( yes , I know you would have to convert the divided highway into a freeway) and perhaps end at a future I-72. Any  opinions about that?

[Sykotyk]

Well, the Avenue of the Saints should be a freeway/expressway all the way.

Problem with I-64 going to Hannibal is that it doesn't really 'serve' anything. considering i-72, when finished, will end at i-35, it's not acting as a shortcut to northwestern travelers. plus, us-61 just needs to get rid of the lights/etc. Having crossroads isn't that big of a deal.

Sykotyk

[Revive 755]

Problem is that a lot of the intersecting crossroads between Hannibal and Wentzville on US 61 seems to be having high numbers of accidents, so MoDOT might as well upgrade US 61 to interstate standards.

[Scott5114]

It would be great if I-64 would be extended onto US 61 to Hannibal ( yes , I know you would have to convert the divided highway into a freeway) and perhaps end at a future I-72. Any  opinions about that?

Also, Hannibal is the complete opposite direction from Wentzville and would involve a sudden, lengthy north-south turn on an otherwise east-west highway.

Posting fantastic fictional highway ideas is all well and good in the fictional highway section but if you're going to consider posting them outside that section then they need to be feasible (i.e. make sense) and be seriously considered by an actual roads agency.

[Terry Shea]

It would be great if I-64 would be extended onto US 61 to Hannibal ( yes , I know you would have to convert the divided highway into a freeway) and perhaps end at a future I-72. Any  opinions about that?

Also, Hannibal is the complete opposite direction from Wentzville and would involve a sudden, lengthy north-south turn on an otherwise east-west highway.

Posting fantastic fictional highway ideas is all well and good in the fictional highway section but if you're going to consider posting them outside that section then they need to be feasible (i.e. make sense) and be seriously considered by an actual roads agency.

No, actually it just needs to follow US-61 in pretty much the same general direction it's already heading.

[Scott5114]

Ok, but that doesn't really have anything to do with I-64 in the Missouri that currently exists now... if it is not being seriously considered by MoDOT it needs to go in the Fictional Highways section!

[Revive 755]

http://www.modot.org/northeast/CitizensAdvisoryCommitteeofLincolnCounty.htm

http://www.modot.org/northeast/major_projects/LincolnCoFutureConst.htm - first unfunded project.

http://www.modot.org/northeast/major_projects/LincolnCoFutureConst.htm - Page 25/44, fifth project from the bottom of the list.

Can't find anything else other than a few newspaper articles expressing wishes by mayors and businessmen for upgrades to US 61 beyond the Troy area tonight.  But considering the way MoDOT acts now days, I think the politicians will be the main initial push for any upgrades to the US 61 corridor.

[ydkj0022]

The last stoplight in Wentzville came down Wednesday:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/330693691FDDB37C8625764F00826EB1?OpenDocument

[Revive 755]

Drove the section both ways this week; WB still has a right-in right-out just after the bridge over Lake St. Louis.  There is a new sign along the lines of I-64 ends 1 Mile continue on US 61.  Most of the mainline reassurance assemblies now have I-64 shields west of Rte K.

Seems MoDOT may be switching to neutered shields; almost all of the new shields plus the new ones around the new Spirit of St. Louis interchange lack the state name.

[Revive 755]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/90A9405F94B6C3FE86257686008050F4?OpenDocument

Another 61 advocate – state Rep. Ed Schieffer, D-Troy – wants to do the same thing by extending Interstate 64 over 61's footprint from Wentzville to Troy.

The article also indicates the length of proposed/planned upgrades is now going up to the Lincoln-Pike County line.

[Revive 755]

MoDOT has gotten FHWA approval for signing I-64 west of I-270.  See about 2/3 down Page 2 of http://interact.stltoday.com/discussions/news/road-crew/LD0329111394/3

[Buummu]

I-64 to end at I-70 again.. hmm.. will it be extended past I-70 somehow in the future? lol