ST. LOUIS, MO — The groundbreaking of the second project within the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) Improve I-70 Program recently kicked off with an official ceremony in Foristell, Missouri. MoDOT, joined by state and local elected officials, along with members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and its contractor team gathered at the closed eastbound I-70 weigh station to break ground on Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville.

“[This] marks another historic milestone in MoDOT’s efforts to Improve I-70,” said W. Dustin Boatwright, Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Vice-Chairman. “This is a once in a generation opportunity to bring this transformative improvement to communities along I-70, the citizens of Missouri, and those just traveling through.”

Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville is one of several projects that will expand and improve I-70 across the state. Missouri’s fiscal year 2024 budget approved through the state legislative process and signed by the governor provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue for the costs to build a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville. This project includes the Improve I-70 and additional legislatively designated General Revenue funding. It also includes previously allocated funds in the state’s program for other I-70 and I-64 projects for a total contract cost of $600 million, the largest single contract in MoDOT’s history.

Construction will begin in spring 2025, and completion is anticipated in late 2028. This project was awarded to the design-build contractor team the Improve 70 Alliance (Emery Sapp and Sons, Clarkson Construction, HNTB, and Bartlett and West) and includes the following improvements:

• Constructing a third lane in each direction on I-70 from Warrenton to I-64 in Wentzville, including replacing the existing I-70 lanes with new full-depth concrete pavement
• Interchange improvements at I-70 and the I-64/U.S. Route 61 interchange
• Interchange and outer road improvements in Warrenton, Wright City, Foristell, and at Route Z
• Realignment at the railroad bridge on I-70 between Wentzville Parkway and Route Z
• Adding a third lane of travel to eastbound and westbound I-64 between I-70 and Route K
• Keeping two lanes of travel open on I-70 in both directions during peak travel times