93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
I-70 across Missouri will be a major theme during Missouri’s 2023 legislative session, according to Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick.
“I mean I-70 we’ve got to get something done with I-70, so we can continue moving forward with other highways and other interstates through our state,” McCormick says.
The importance of rebuilding I-70 was discussed recently by business leaders during the Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) board meeting in Columbia. State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) has unveiled a proposal to rebuild I-70 from Wentzville to Blue Springs, making it four lanes in each direction. Senator Eigel has told 939 the Eagle his proposal would tap into Missouri’s record surplus and then get a federal match of 50 percent. He says that would give Missouri the $8-billion needed to complete the project. His bill is Senate Bill 317.
“They’ve (MoDOT) got these seven big projects taking place on I-70. So how can we connect those dots, how can we help from border to border to connect those dots. Widen, make Highway 70 a better interstate that we can move people, we can move goods, we can move services. And that’s what’s important to the business community,” says McCormick.
Two of the seven projects Mr. McCormick mentions are in our listening area. MoDOT and its contractors are currently working on the massive $240-million I-70 Rocheport bridge project. More than 12-million vehicles cross the current I-70 bridge each year. MoDOT is also proposing a $140-million upgrade at Columbia’s I-70 and Highway 63 interchange. Transportation officials say 160,000 vehicles go through that intersection daily.
