Westbound I-70 traffic shift near Boonville planned for next week

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Motorists traveling westbound Interstate 70 in Cooper County should plan for a traffic shift overnight beginning Thursday, Oct. 29, to allow crews to rebuild the westbound lanes of I-70 as part of the Improve I-70: Boonville to Rocheport project.

The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor plan to shift westbound I-70 traffic into the newly constructed median lanes between Missouri Route 87 (Exit 106) to Missouri Route 5 (Exit 101) in Boonville beginning at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. During the traffic shift, which is expected to remain in place for several months, speeds will be reduced and lanes will be narrowed.

As part of the traffic switch, westbound on- and off-ramps at the following exits will temporarily close to allow crews to adjust pavement height differences and safely move traffic into the new configuration:

• Exit 101: Route 5, closed Oct. 29 - 30
• Exit 106: Route 87, closed Oct. 29 - 31

Cooper County Route B (Exit 103) ramps are anticipated to remain open.

Ramp closures are also scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Motorists should plan ahead and use Missouri Routes 135 and 41 (Exit 98) to detour around the closures.

Eastbound I-70 traffic will remain in its current configuration, and eastbound exits are expected to remain open while westbound traffic is shifted.

All work is weather-permitting and subject to change.

MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.

This work is part of the fifth project in MoDOT's Statewide Improve I-70 Program, Improve I-70: Boonville to Rocheport, which will add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 13-mile stretch of I-70 between Boonville and Rocheport. This $104 million design-bid-build project includes plans to widen two I-70 bridges, one over the Union Pacific Railroad at mile markers 113, and one just west of the Lance Corporal Leon Deraps I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport.

Missouri's FY2024 budget, approved through the state legislative process and governor provides, $2.8 billion in General Revenue 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. For more information on the Improve I-70 Program and to sign up for program e-mails, visit http://www.modot.org/improvei70 .

For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org . To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates .

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