Groundbreaking in Columbia signified start of first project in Improve I-70 Program
MoDOT hosted a groundbreaking event in Columbia on June 13 celebrating the first project within its Improve I-70 Program.
Gov. Mike Parson joined federal, state and local elected officials along with past and present members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and its Design-Build contractor team to break ground on Improve I-70 Project No. 1: Columbia to Kingdom City.
The first project is a $405 million fixed-cost contract that will add an additional lane to Interstate 70 in each direction between U.S. Route 63 in Columbia and Route 54 in Kingdom City. The project also incorporates $123 million worth of previously programmed MoDOT projects to improve the I-70 interchanges at both Route 63 and Route 54.
The planned improvements from the Design-Build contractor Millstone Weber and their designer Jacobs Inc. also include new concrete pavement on all three lanes of I-70 in each direction of the project. Construction of this project is expected to begin in early July with an anticipated completion in late 2027.