Look for construction to begin after the Fourth of July on the $405-million project to rebuild I-70 between Columbia and Kingdom City and add an additional lane to that 20-mile stretch.
It’s all part of the massive $2.8 billion project to reconstruct and expand I-70 to six lanes from Blue Springs to Wentzville. Former St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, who’s now a member of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, joined Governor Parson at this month’s Columbia groundbreaking ceremony. Former Mayor Slay tells 939 the Eagle that I70 is the lifeline from one part of the state to the other.
“A tremendous amount of appropriations money that’s going to make this happen. And this would not have happened without the leadership of the governor’s office and the bipartisan support in the state Legislature,” Slay says.
Mayor Slay notes there was bipartisan support in both the Missouri House and Senate.
Democrats and Republicans in the Missouri Legislature joined Governor Parson at this month’s Columbia groundbreaking ceremony for the $2.8 billion plan to expand and rebuild I-70 from Wentzville to Blue Springs. Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood likes that bipartisanship, telling 939 the Eagle that it’s benefiting Columbia residents along with residents across the state:
“And I think like the governor (Mike Parson) said you know when you look at road projects, when you look at infrastructure projects, there is no Republican way or Democratic way to do it. It’s all about the community. It’s all about us coming together and realizing that we have to row in the same direction to make success for all our communities,” Seewood says.
The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) notes the Columbia to Kingdom City project includes $123-million to improve I-70 and Highway 63 in Columbia and I-70 and Highway 54 in Kingdom City.
