93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Missouri’s governor and state lawmakers in both parties like State Reps. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) and Jim Schulte (R-New Bloomfield) will be in Columbia in about an hour for this morning’s 10 o’clock groundbreaking ceremony for the $405-million I-70 project between Columbia and Kingdom City. This morning’s ceremony takes place at the Drury Plaza hotel near Columbia’s I-70 and 63 interchange. Governor Mike Parson (R) and state Highways and Transportation Commission chairman W. Dustin Boatwright of Cape Girardeau will speak at the ceremony, which will be close to the interstate. The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) plans to add an additional lane to I-70 between the Highway 63 connector in Columbia and Highway 54 in Kingdom City. MoDOT project director Jeff Gander tells 939 the Eagle that the work will begin after the Fourth of July east of Columbia. City spokeswoman Sydney Olsen tells 939 the Eagle that Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, fourth ward councilman Nick Foster and fifth ward councilman Donald Waterman plan to attend this morning’s ceremony, along with Mr. Seewood. Governor Parson joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, describing today as a big day. He talked about the decision to use state dollars, specifically general revenue, for this project. We also discussed the $50-billion state operating budget approved by state lawmakers. Governor Parson tells listeners that the next governor will likely have to do a supplemental budget. We also asked him if he’ll have to call a special session this summer or fall:
Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe takes a selfie with Missouri Governor Mike Parson at the I-70 bill-signing ceremony in MACC's Columbia parking on August 15, 2023 (file photo courtesy of the governor's Flickr page)
