New Missouri US 61 interchange in Lincoln County

[splashflash]

MoDOT will have an open house Oct 29th in Troy with options for a new interchange.  Construction north of Troy to replace two current interdectikns for highways K/V and Creech Dr is to be started 2026.  The interchange is to open in winter 2027.

https://www.modot.org/us-route-61-route-k-and-route-v-interchange-improvements-lincoln

This work will make US 61 more of a freeway, but the Hannibal Expressway bypass appears to have stalled.

[splashflash]

Upon reading the report for the project above,a second interchange, a few miles north, will be built concurrently.  At grade crossing Routes E and B, also in Lincoln county, will start in 2026.  The report notes that the contractor should be ready to coordinate  planning to avoid closure of both crossings at the same time.

Note that the B and E grade crossing has a flashing amber light above each carriageway.

[Revive 755]

The meeting handouts posted online mention that a diamond interchange would require signalizing the ramp intersections.  If traffic has grown that much north of Troy I wonder how long before North Lincoln Drive and the southern Route KK intersections are under study for interchanges?

[splashflash]

The meeting handouts posted online mention that a diamond interchange would require signalizing the ramp intersections.  If traffic has grown that much north of Troy I wonder how long before North Lincoln Drive and the southern Route KK intersections are under study for interchanges?

There is unfunded work south if Lincoln County as well: https://www.modot.org/us-route-61-safety-and-traffic-study-st-charles

[splashflash]

'Halfway Through': 61/47 project making progress, Route 47 closed this weekend
MARCH 13, 2025NEWS, NEWSLETTER LATE WEEK
Sunni Battin
Special to the Journal

TROY – The eagerly awaited completion of the U.S. Route 61 and Missouri Route 47 project is drawing nearer with an estimated target finish date of Nov. 1. But this weekend, there will be lane closures and anticipated delays with the removal of the southern side of the existing Route 47 bridge at the Troy interchange.

"We're halfway through," said MoDOT's Jeffrey Niemeyer. "We did the north side first, and now we're switching to the south side of the bridge because we did this bridge a half at a time just because we didn't have a great detour for Route 47."

[splashflash]

Phase 4 (final phase) to start on Mo 47 / US 61 diverging diamond on June 30th

https://boonecountryconnection.com/news/roads/11108-traffic-shift-at-mo-47-u-s-61-interchange-transitions-to-diverging-diamond-configuration-scheduled-for-nighttime-hours-june-30

https://www.modot.org/projects/missouri-route-47-and-us-route-61-interchange-improvements-lincoln

ANNIBAL – As the Missouri Route 47 and U.S. Route 61 interchange at Troy approaches the final stages of completion, the existing two-way traffic pattern on the bridge will switch to the permanent diverging diamond traffic configuration. Additionally, sections of the north and south pedestrian facilities will begin to open for public use.

Weather permitting, during the nighttime hours the week of June 30, contractor crews will begin to shift MO 47 traffic to the diverging diamond traffic pattern.

To minimize traffic impacts as much as possible, the traffic pattern shift will be done during non-peak hours, when traffic volumes are lower. Flaggers will be utilized to assist in directing traffic.

Final work on the interchange will include:

    • Completing all unfinished concrete median islands and barriers.
    • Installation of the pedestrian curb ramps and sidewalks as well as the connecting walkways to the east and west.
    • Installation of permanent signals and lighting at the ramp terminals.

Traffic impacts during this time will include:

    • Lane closures to facilitate work on remaining construction items.
    • Any unfinished islands and barriers will be marked using channelizing devices.

[edwaleni]

The Hannibal Bypass will be stuck for sometime.

Its the same issue Dubuque Iowa has with a US-20 Bypass south of the city. (Currently mislabeled US-52)

They want the bypass, but they dont want to lose pass through traffic in their city.

So they want the bypass to be close by, but that makes property acquisition too expensive and harder to approve.

So it sits in this purgatory of highway planning.

The Hannibal Bypass plan has it too far from the Hannibal city limits but is actually more practical.  And that is the problem, if its extremely practical, people will want to use it and avoid the city.

In the case of Troy, US-61 goes right through town, so they don't have to worry about it so much.

[splashflash]

The Hannibal Bypass will be stuck for sometime.

Its the same issue Dubuque Iowa has with a US-20 Bypass south of the city. (Currently mislabeled US-52)

They want the bypass, but they dont want to lose pass through traffic in their city.

So they want the bypass to be close by, but that makes property acquisition too expensive and harder to approve.

So it sits in this purgatory of highway planning.

The Hannibal Bypass plan has it too far from the Hannibal city limits but is actually more practical.  And that is the problem, if its extremely practical, people will want to use it and avoid the city.

In the case of Troy, US-61 goes right through town, so they don't have to worry about it so much.

A tolled bypass would allay those qualms of the Hannibal naysayers.

[SEWIGuy]

The Hannibal Bypass will be stuck for sometime.

Its the same issue Dubuque Iowa has with a US-20 Bypass south of the city. (Currently mislabeled US-52)

They want the bypass, but they dont want to lose pass through traffic in their city.

I don't think that has anything to do with the Dubuque bypass. It's simply a terrible route for US-20 through traffic - it's almost twice the distance, and the through route is pretty easy anyway.

[splashflash]

The meeting handouts posted online mention that a diamond interchange would require signalizing the ramp intersections.  If traffic has grown that much north of Troy I wonder how long before North Lincoln Drive and the southern Route KK intersections are under study for interchanges?

https://www.lincolncountyjournal.com/2025/03/10/troy-considering-adding-overpass-outer-road-to-lincoln-drive/

Looks like the former is the case, but when wouldnbe anyone's guess.

[splashflash]

Budgetary plans for US 61 interchange work.

End of 2025 - complete Mo 47 / US 61 DDI.
2026 - Routes K / V and US 61 interchange
2026 - Route W and US 61 interchange in St. Charles County making all of US 61 in that country grade separated.
2027 - Routes E / B and US 61 interchange