Missouri

[m2tbone]

They started clearing the trees at the interchange last week.  It already looks completely different.

[Rothman]

WTH?

[Revive 755]

I see that MoDOT is going to replace the I-70 & I-64 interchange in Wentzville along with widening I-70 between that particular exchange and Warrenton.

The plans online have the I-70/US 40/US 61 interchange remaining in the same general configuration with EB I-70 to EB US 40 ramp going to two lanes; WB US 40 to WB I-70 going to two lanes, SB US 61 being widened to three lanes south of Route A, and the WB I-70 ramp to Route Z splitting off the the loop to EB US 40, going under the ramps to WB I-70 from US 40 and US 61, and then merging to form what appears to be a C-D roadway.

[roadman65]

Well at least they are addressing the needs of Interstate 70 being congested.  That route across the state is too crowded for just four lanes.

Isee the Rocheport Bridge is built at six lanes now addressing the state wide issue and the freeway will be realigned in Wentzville to address the problem with the railroad crossing that was making things problematic for widening as well

[Mav94]

Does anyone know anything about the status of the US 61 bypass of Hannibal? I can't find anything less than a year old online.

[splashflash]

This is the last I have seen: https://themissouritimes.com/opinion-zero-accountability-thy-name-is-modot/

"Lately, the refrain has been that we can get the designation as soon as the Hannibal bypass is built to the west (literally only God knows when that will happen)."

Between the governor vetoing the line item, for $2M for construction of the Hannibal expressway last year, from the budget and - according to Riggs - MoDOT stonewalling projects in the northeast - it is not moving forward.

[Mav94]

This is the last I have seen: https://themissouritimes.com/opinion-zero-accountability-thy-name-is-modot/

"Lately, the refrain has been that we can get the designation as soon as the Hannibal bypass is built to the west (literally only God knows when that will happen)."

Between the governor vetoing the line item last year from the budget for more study of the Hannibal expressway and - according to Riggs - MoDOT stonewalling the project, it is not moving forward.

Disappointing but not surprising. Of all the places I drive through regularly I can't think of any place more in need of a bypass than Hannibal is. When a town that size says "please bypass us" that is a pretty clear sign.

[Sani]

I emailed MoDOT about this a few weeks ago but never heard back. Are there any plans to complete the interchange improvements at U.S. 65 and U.S. 60 in Springfield? Specifically, to turn the existing southbound lanes into a C-D road and construct new southbound mainline lanes in the middle? They did half of the work already.

[Sapphuby]

This is the last I have seen: https://themissouritimes.com/opinion-zero-accountability-thy-name-is-modot/

"Lately, the refrain has been that we can get the designation as soon as the Hannibal bypass is built to the west (literally only God knows when that will happen)."

Between the governor vetoing the line item last year from the budget for more study of the Hannibal expressway and - according to Riggs - MoDOT stonewalling the project, it is not moving forward.

Disappointing but not surprising. Of all the places I drive through regularly I can't think of any place more in need of a bypass than Hannibal is. When a town that size says "please bypass us" that is a pretty clear sign.

There's a string of county roads that somewhat function as a bypass around southern Hannibal, but those roads are terrible for freight traffic looking to circumvent the numerous stoplights along US 61, which is the shining reason the town needs a bypass in the first place.

[Scott5114]

I'm not sure how old this is, so it's probably been discussed before. Historically, the letter suffixes on the exit numbers Alphabet Loop in Kansas City famously went up to 2Y. But at some point Exit 2Z was added.

[Revive 755]

I'm not sure how old this is, so it's probably been discussed before. Historically, the letter suffixes on the exit numbers Alphabet Loop in Kansas City famously went up to 2Y. But at some point Exit 2Z was added.

That appears to be a recent addition with the new direct connection added to US 169 as part of the Broadway Bridge replacement.
Speaking of exit numbers in the KC area:  Did MoDOT recently add exit numbers for Bruce R. Watkins or is Google Maps incorrect?

[mvak36]

https://www.modot.org/node/67800

KANSAS CITY – The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) has selected the Radmacher-Ideker Joint Venture team as the apparent best-value proposer and Design-Build contractor of the next project in MoDOT's Improve I-70 Program. The joint venture team consists of contractors Radmacher Brothers Excavating Co., Inc. and Ideker Inc., with designers Wilson and Company, Inc. Negotiations to finalize the contract are currently in progress.
 
Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa is a $350 million fixed-cost contract that will add a third lane to each direction and make other improvements to Interstate 70. The Design-Build contractor team has also committed to extending the third lane in both directions to mile marker 45.3, nearly seven miles past the project requirements.

This project is the third in a series of projects which will widen and improve the I-70 corridor. Missouri's FY2024 budget from the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor 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.

"MoDOT continues to make significant progress at unprecedented speed towards delivering this generational opportunity to improve I-70 across the state," explained MHTC Chairman Warren Erdman. "Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa will not only improve I-70; it is also an opportunity to make other much needed improvements to I-70 interchanges in Jackson and Lafayette counties. These improvements will continue to serve these growing communities for many years to come."

The selected team, Radmacher-Ideker Joint Venture was one of five shortlisted Design-Build teams. The winning proposal includes:

    Constructing a third lane of I-70 in both directions beginning just west of MO Route 7 in Blue Springs to approximately MO Route H (mile marker 45.3), nearly seven miles past the project requirements.
    Replacement of the existing I-70 lanes with all new full-depth concrete pavement.
    Improved I-70 interchanges at MO Route D in Bates City and at MO Route 131 in Odessa.
    14 bridge replacements.
    The team has also committed to keeping two lanes of traffic open in each direction during peak travel times.

"The Radmacher-Ideker Joint Venture team is proud to partner with MoDOT on the Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa Project," said Andrew Nelson, Vice President of Operations of Radmacher Brothers Excavating Co. Inc. "As a local team, we're especially honored to be part of such a significant investment in our community and Missouri's highway system. We're excited for the opportunity to contribute to a transformative infrastructure initiative that will benefit our state and local communities for generations to come."

The next steps include finalizing the contract, and the contractor team will be doing more detailed design of the roadway and interchanges and outlining the construction schedule with traffic control plans. MoDOT will host public information meetings this summer as these details are available. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2025 with an anticipated completion in late 2028. For more information on the Improve I-70 Program, visit www.modot.org/improvei70.

[Stephane Dumas]

I emailed MoDOT about this a few weeks ago but never heard back. Are there any plans to complete the interchange improvements at U.S. 65 and U.S. 60 in Springfield? Specifically, to turn the existing southbound lanes into a C-D road and construct new southbound mainline lanes in the middle? They did half of the work already.

Good question and speaking of US-60, is there some long term plans to remove the intersections between the US-65 and County NN interchanges?

[Revive 755]

For US 60 at US 65, the unfunded projects list (https://www.modot.org/sites/default/files/documents/High-Priority%20Unfunded%20Needs%202024%203.pdf, Page 29/62)  has an entry for "Phase 2" at this interchange.

I don't see an unfunded freeway upgrade in that document for US 60 between US 65 and the Rte J/Rte NN interchange, so either MoDOT is waiting until something forces the issue or there is something already in the works for that stretch.  There could also be a planned conversion of the intersections to RCUTS instead of a full freeway upgrade.