Future of I-72 in Missouri?

[The Ghostbuster]

I consider the IL/MO 110 designation to be an unnecessary one, like the IA 27 designation (the IA 163 extension eastward also seems unnecessary to me).

[kphoger]

I consider the IL/MO 110 designation to be an unnecessary one, like the IA 27 designation (the IA 163 extension eastward also seems unnecessary to me).

I have an irrational hatred of the CKC designation that I don't care to rid myself of.

[Molandfreak]

I consider the IL/MO 110 designation to be an unnecessary one, like the IA 27 designation (the IA 163 extension eastward also seems unnecessary to me).

How would things play out on your ideal Avenue of the Saints? Would you just force people to follow their GPS without a clear and consistent route?

[Revive 755]

US 60 is more of a niche purpose and wouldn't be really taking traffic off any other routes that critically need relief (as it doesn't help grab trucks that could use I-40 or I-44).

US 60 might be more effective as a relief route if something would get done about that gap between I-57 and I-24.  There seems to be a lot of truck traffic west of Paducah in Kentucky already.

[Sani]

I haven't been this way in a couple of years, but looking around Google Street View, has the MoDOT Northwest district removed all CKC/MO 110 signs in the last year? For example, where the eastbound CKC turns from I-35 to US-36, signs are present in July 2023 but removed by October 2024. On the other side of this interchange and at other major junctions along US-36, other CKC/110 signs were removed between October 2024 and October 2025. I have not located one anywhere within the Northwest district in imagery later than October 2024.

It is still signed in the most recent imagery after crossing into Macon County (Northeast district) and Clay County (Kansas City district). The Kansas City district has kept the CKC signs when they recently re-added the I-35 shields that were dropped when the CKC/110 designation was posted in the early 2010s. Here is the first southbound sign after entering Clay County in January 2024 vs. October 2025.

I can't say for sure which districts are or aren't removing the signs, but I was looking for CKC and MO 110 signs on my drive between KC and Chicago in September, and I don't remember seeing many at all.

[ModernDayWarrior]

I drove through Hannibal on US-61 last month, and the I-72/US-36 exit still had its CKC/MO-110 signs, at least. Can't say whether or not it was still signed on the road itself.

On the Illinois side, the CKC and IL-110 signs were still up on I-172.

[JREwing78]

US 60 is more of a niche purpose and wouldn't be really taking traffic off any other routes that critically need relief (as it doesn't help grab trucks that could use I-40 or I-44).

US 60 might be more effective as a relief route if something would get done about that gap between I-57 and I-24.  There seems to be a lot of truck traffic west of Paducah in Kentucky already.

The ultimate issue here is, as always, the Mississippi River (and Ohio River) crossing. The land connection is almost a non-issue. 

This is one situation where federal funding might present a solution. Illinois has next-to-no reason to create a E-W Interstate connection connecting I-57 and I-24 along the Ohio River. But a roughly 25 mile spur connecting the two highways would negate the need for upgrading major river crossings. It could also be extended westward an additional 15 or so miles to connect to IL-146 east of Cape Girardeau. This would provide an alternative connection to I-55 and points north and west.

[kphoger]

But a roughly 25 mile spur connecting the two highways would negate the need for upgrading major river crossings. It could also be extended westward an additional 15 or so miles to connect to IL-146 east of Cape Girardeau.

My favorite route between the two was always Tick Ridge Road from Joppa to New Grand Chain.  But, whenever I was in the position to need to get between the two in Illinois, it was because I already had business in Metropolis and/or Joppa.  Absent that, the route would be much more usable if I-24 had an Exit #35 at Country Club Road.

[I-39]

It's possible work on I-57 stalls out in Missouri after the section between Poplar Bluff and the Arkansas border is completed.  There's no slow towns on the US 60 corridor between Poplar Bluff and Sikeston in need of bypasses, unlike Hannibal on US 61 and Macon on US 63 (both of which IMHO should have bypasses completed prior to upgrading US 60 between Poplar Bluff in Sikeston).

Actually, I think the opposite. Once Poplar Bluff to Corning is completed, there will be substantial pressure to complete Sikeston and Poplar Bluff to pressure Arkansas to finish Walnut Ridge to Corning.

[ModernDayWarrior]

It's possible work on I-57 stalls out in Missouri after the section between Poplar Bluff and the Arkansas border is completed.  There's no slow towns on the US 60 corridor between Poplar Bluff and Sikeston in need of bypasses, unlike Hannibal on US 61 and Macon on US 63 (both of which IMHO should have bypasses completed prior to upgrading US 60 between Poplar Bluff in Sikeston).

Actually, I think the opposite. Once Poplar Bluff to Corning is completed, there will be substantial pressure to complete Sikeston and Poplar Bluff to pressure Arkansas to finish Walnut Ridge to Corning.

Not sure about this. US 60 from Poplar Bluff to Sikeston basically functions like an interstate as-is. It has a 65 mph speed limit and (IIRC) zero stoplights. It does have a handful of at-grades, but they're with low-traffic roads that don't cause slowdowns, and Missouri has far too many other needs to justify spending its money on getting rid of them. In addition to the two Revive 755 mentioned, there's the I-70 reconstruction/six-laning project that will be going on for at least the next five years, then once that's done, I-44 is going to need it as well. Once Arkansas gets their portion of I-57 complete to the state line, there will be pressure on Missouri to finish its part, but that's several years away at best.

[Revive 755]

Not sure about this. US 60 from Poplar Bluff to Sikeston basically functions like an interstate as-is. It has a 65 mph speed limit and (IIRC) zero stoplights.

I can confirm the zero stoplights.  Most of the locations that would likely be able to warrant a light already have interchanges, not including some intersections near Sikeston, possibly Morehouse.

Given how well MoDOT has managed to avoid adding stoplights to some of the other problematic expressways such as US 61 in St. Charles and Lincoln Counties, I do not see them adding any on this stretch of US 60 unless forced by political methods.

[kphoger]

Is there still an at-grade railroad crossing across US-60 through there?  It's been years since I last drove it.

[okroads]

Is there still an at-grade railroad crossing across US-60 through there?  It's been years since I last drove it.

There used to be one just west of the MO 114 intersection near Morehouse but it was removed sometime between 2011 & 2015.

[edwaleni]

I asked a retired KDOT employee if Kansas would improve K-4 from Topeka all the way to Atchison and perhaps cross over north of Doniphan to connect with the interstate network south of St Joseph.  He said KDOT does own a lot of ROW to improve K-4, but only as far as Atchison, but nothing beyond that.

I had a fictional thought that using I-335 and K-4 with a lead to a future I-72, you would have an excellent truck route to Chicago that would bypass the KC & StL Metro areas and its related congestion.

[Henry]

I asked a retired KDOT employee if Kansas would improve K-4 from Topeka all the way to Atchison and perhaps cross over north of Doniphan to connect with the interstate network south of St Joseph.  He said KDOT does own a lot of ROW to improve K-4, but only as far as Atchison, but nothing beyond that.

I had a fictional thought that using I-335 and K-4 with a lead to a future I-72, you would have an excellent truck route to Chicago that would bypass the KC & StL Metro areas and its related congestion.

That would not be a bad idea, though as it is, nothing west of St. Joseph is on the books for either KDOT or MoDOT. My belief remains that the unusually high exit numbers on I-72 in Hannibal have something to do with its hypothetical ending at I-29.

[kphoger]

I once decided to drive back from Des Moines via US-169 to St Joseph, then US-59 and K-4 to Topeka.  That was the worst decision.  So-o-o-o-o slo-o-o-o-ow...

[edwaleni]

I once decided to drive back from Des Moines via US-169 to St Joseph, then US-59 and K-4 to Topeka.  That was the worst decision.  So-o-o-o-o slo-o-o-o-ow...

Oof! US-169, zig-zag central.

[kphoger]

Oof! US-169, zig-zag central.

Zig-zags, no hard shoulders, 55mph speed limit.  And then US-59 → K-4 had enough traffic on it that I wasn't really able to recoup any time by driving faster.

[bugo]

I find it funny how US 169 is a much slower alternative to US 71/I-29 between St Joseph and Kansas City. I came back that way from Omaha to KC once,but I don't remember much about it other than it took longer to drive than it would have to have just stayed on I-29.

[The Ghostbuster]

How does US 169 between Kansas City and St. Joseph compare to taking MO 371 (old US 71) between those cities?