Improve I-44 Missouri

[Plutonic Panda]

Another project which isn't completely funded yet to potentially follow the same model the state did with I-70 and modernize and widen the freeway throughout the state to be a minimum of 3 lanes each way.

Project webpage: https://www.modot.org/forward44

[Bobby5280]

I'm all for improving I-44 in Missouri. That highway carries a serious amount of truck traffic. It's generally a pretty busy corridor overall. Obviously it can't all be widened to 3x3 lanes at once.

I think the segment of I-44 from the OK state line and Joplin over to Springfield ought to be a priority. I-44 is a 3x3 configuration from the West edge of St Louis to Gray Summit and the exit for MO-100. Near term: I think they need to widen I-44 from that point to the interchange with US-50.

[kphoger]

I think the segment of I-44 from the OK state line and Joplin over to Springfield ought to be a priority.

Ugh.  Sometimes it isn't bad, but sometimes it's just wall-to-wall cars and trucks.  Fortunately for me, I typically only use ten miles of it these days (MO-96 to the James River).  But just those ten miles are enough!

[Beltway]

From the webpage:
"Interstate 44 is a vital east-west link across Missouri and to the nation. The corridor was completed in 1966, and in the decades since, has established itself as a route of statewide and national importance and a key freight corridor."

I drove it in 1971 and at least 60 miles was unbuilt, and on those segments the route followed the nonlimited-access 4-lane US-66. I just verified that on the map that I had with me.

I would have to find later maps to research, but it was more like late 1970s before it was all complete.

[Plutonic Panda]

Look, man I'm not wanting to judge and I'm not trying to be a moderator, but I'm begging ya, please do not hijack this thread into some weird twilight version of road geekery like the Key Bridge threads. I'm not sure exactly when this interstate was built, but hopefully this thread pertains more to the improvement project of the current interstate. The last thing we need is this dwelling into a discussion about some element of this that you're gonna inevitably tied to what you would equate the land equivalent of a dolphin to be. I'm being 100% serious not even trying to joke please man for the love of God. I'm really nervous that somehow I don't know why I feel like there's a small but not zero chance you're gonna start talking about possums here. That's enough to make me nervous.

[Road Hog]

In the 1980s I remember seeing glimpses of the old US 66 off to the side driving up I-44 somewhere around Rolla. There are probably whole abandoned stretches along the entire interstate, aside from the old-old US 66 routings that continue to exist today as business loops.