Across Missouri and Kansas, major infrastructure and weather events are converging, impacting travel and daily life for residents. In Missouri, significant upgrades to Interstate 70 are underway, while in Kansas, a severe winter storm has caused widespread road closures and travel disruptions.

Starting later this month, a substantial $237 million project will commence on a four-mile stretch of I-70 in Missouri, spanning from Highway 71 to US 40. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is spearheading this three-year initiative, with construction set to begin from Paseo to US 40 Highway. 

Allan Ludiker, the I-70 project director for MoDOT, outlined that the project’s primary goal is to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly during the evening commute, by adding a fourth eastbound lane from Prospect to the Manchester Avenue bridge. This expansion is just one component of a broader effort to modernize and improve the I-70 corridor.

Beyond lane expansion, the project will involve the replacement of 15 bridges and the rehabilitation of seven others. MoDOT also plans to smooth out the Jackson and Benton curves, improving overall road safety and efficiency. 

A key aspect of the project is improving pedestrian and bicycle connections. “They will include new sidewalks on each side of the bridge, much wider. And they’ll be brought up to current standards. So have new curb ramps,” Ludiker stated, emphasizing the commitment to improving accessibility for all road users. 

MoDOT plans to not only make the corridor more reliable but also to stimulate regional development. Jonathan Baker, with Clarkson-Radmacher Joint Venture, highlighted the project’s local impact, noting that the collaboration between the two local companies will create jobs and deliver essential improvements. “I think the improvements are going to be great for the community,” Baker said. “There will be, you know, challenges and impacts as well in every construction project.” The overall goal for the I-70 upgrades across the entire state is to open by the end of 2028.

In a separate I-70 related project, MoDOT has also begun overnight single-lane closures on eastbound I-70 between Paris Road and U.S. 63. These closures, part of the “Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City” program, were initially postponed due to cold weather. The lane closures will occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Saturday, until February 15. 

This program aims to add a third lane in each direction along a 20-mile stretch between Columbia and Kingdom City, with interchange improvements also planned. Construction on this segment is expected to conclude in 2027. MoDOT’s broader vision for I-70 includes adding a third lane in each direction across nearly 200 miles of the interstate. This extensive project is being divided into smaller contracts, with awards continuing through 2029. MoDOT aims to complete the entire program by 2030.

Meanwhile, in Kansas, a severe winter storm has caused widespread road closures and travel disruptions. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) reported that major state highways across northeast Kansas have begun to reopen after being closed over the weekend due to dangerous conditions. 

This includes all interstate highways in the Kansas City metro area. Previously, Interstate-70 was closed from Ellsworth/Hays to the Missouri state line. As of Monday morning, I-70 is now only closed from Ellsworth/Hays to just past Manhattan. Kansas Highway 10 in Lawrence has also reopened, but U.S. Highway 40 from K-4 in Topeka to K-10 in Lawrence remains closed.

Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed described the storm as an “extraordinary weather event,” bringing record-breaking snowfall and freezing rain. The scale of the storm presented “significant challenges” for road clearing crews, who worked diligently overnight to make progress. 

“We encourage travelers to use caution as snow-packed conditions may persist in some areas,” Reed said. KDOT crews, in collaboration with the Kansas Highway Patrol and local emergency management officials, also assisted stranded motorists on I-70 in Dickinson County, guiding them to shelter. 

Despite the reopening of some major routes, significant closures persist in areas west of Lawrence. I-70 remains closed in both directions from Hays to the K-177 exit near Manhattan, and state highways in north central and south central Kansas remain closed.