Lane closure scheduled next weekend for I-70 in Columbia
Alison Patton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A temporary single-lane closure of eastbound Interstate 70 is scheduled to begin next weekend in Columbia, according to a Wednesday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.
The closure will last from 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3 through 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, between Range Line Street and Highway 63, the release says.
“This single-lane closure is necessary for construction crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation to construct the new eastbound I-70 lanes near Boone County Route B (Paris Road). All work is weather-permitting and subject to change,” the release says.
MoDOT’s Eric Kopinski said drivers shouldn’t expect to see a change in the road when the two miles of closed lanes reopen Oct. 6.
“There won’t be any dramatic improvement to to their driving experience,” Kopinski said. “The big difference, though, is for our crews. It’s really going to allow us to remove and build additional pavement in a safe manner.”
Kopinski said a third lane will be added to both directions of the I-70 stretch between Columbia and Kingdom City, which is about 20 miles, by December 2027. The state is aiming to make I-70 a three-lane interstate across the entire state and is still expected to finish by December 2030.
With the on-going highway construction, MoDOT urges drivers to be cautious in work zones and to slow down as crews work to add an extra lane.
Kopinski said there are about 150 people working on Columbia’s stretch of I-70 alone.
“We want to make sure that they can show up, do their job and go home at the end of every shift,” Kopinski said. “We encourage everyone to try to slow down and and keep everybody safe as we make these historic improvements.”