The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has officially adopted a record $13.3 billion five-year highway plan, paving the way for game-changing upgrades to roads, bridges, and transportation networks throughout the state from 2026 to 2030. 

The recently adopted Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) will focus on enhancing safety, traffic flow, bridge repair, and rural access throughout Missouri. According to KRCG-TV, the funding will cover over 1,800 individual projects designed to renew urban and rural transportation routes.

The entire STIP document, posted on MoDOT's website, spells out strategic priorities aligned with federal infrastructure goals such as long-term economic development, regional connectivity, and climate resilience. The five-year plan, as reported by Transportation Today News, involves significant upgrades for highways, transit, aviation facilities, rail, and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure. Besides restoring worn-out assets, these expenditures will prepare Missouri for future freight and population expansion.

One of the central components of the plan is the ongoing expansion of Interstate 70, Missouri’s most-traveled highway. As Contractor News previously reported, MoDOT broke ground earlier this year on a $2.8 billion initiative to add lanes, improve exits, and replace deteriorating pavement between Kansas City and St. Louis. In collaboration with Kansas, Missouri is also progressing with border improvements. The two states recently initiated a multi-phase I-70 upgrade, intended to enhance traffic safety and make long-haul freight routes more efficient.

The STIP will be funded through a combination of state and federal sources, including revenue from Missouri’s 2021 fuel tax increase and allocations from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Local matching funds and transportation grants are expected to supplement these core funding streams for transit and multimodal projects. 

Contractors and subcontractors can look forward to a steady stream of bidding opportunities as the state introduces new project phases. MoDOT has focused on transparency and accessibility on behalf of interested vendors using its online procurement portal and STIP project tracker.

The building sector, again confronting shortages of labor and inflationary pressures, could be required to ramp up capacity in order to address the increased demand. STIP projects encompass rural bridge rehabilitations, urban interstate widenings, and improvements to public transportation, which would provide opportunities for firms of all sizes—particularly DBEs and local contractors—to find statewide work. 

With over $13 billion invested through 2030, Missouri is currently one of the nation's leading states for long-term infrastructure investment. State leaders indicate the program will spur economic growth, enhance traffic safety, and improve connectivity for millions of Midwestern residents and businesses. As implementation begins, MoDOT invites public comment and will continue to revise timelines, budgets, and project scopes on a rolling basis.