Westbound I-70 access to Exit 144 closing overnight May 12

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - An upcoming traffic shift on Interstate 70 between mile markers 144 and 149 will restrict westbound access to Callaway County Route M/Hatton for several months. Beginning overnight May 12, weather-permitting, motorists will need to use an alternate route.

Construction crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation have completed building two new lanes of I-70 in the existing median between Route M and U.S. Route 54 in Kingdom City. Crews now plan to start reconstructing the existing westbound lanes. Overnight May 12, westbound traffic to be shifted onto the newly constructed lanes, separated from eastbound traffic with a temporary concrete barrier wall.

During the traffic shift, westbound I-70 will be narrowed to 10-foot lanes and speeds reduced to 55 mph. Those traveling westbound will be unable to change lanes between mile markers 144-146 and mile markers 148-149. Additionally, the ramp from westbound I-70 to Exit 144 from will be closed for several months. As an alternate route, motorists can take Exit 148 (Kingdom City) and use the north Outer Road 70 to Route M.

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 first project in MoDOT's Statewide Improve I-70 Program, Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City, which will add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 20-mile stretch of I-70 between Columbia) and Kingdom City. This $405 million fixed-cost contract includes new pavement on all three lanes of I-70 and will also make interchange improvements to the I-70 interchanges at U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 54.

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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