Missouri transportation officials credit calmer winds for helping crews set flyover girders much faster than expected and that will move traffic quicker from northbound Highway 63 to westbound I-70 in Columbia.
Columbia’s I-70 and Highway 63 interchange is mid-Missouri’s busiest interchange and many truckers from across the country use it. While there were 45-minute backups Saturday on westbound I-70 to Route Z, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Improve I-70 program director Eric Kopinski says the calmer winds meant westbound I-70 traffic returned to normal conditions at about 1:30 Sunday morning, more than 24 hours earlier than originally expected.
Mr. Kopinski tells 939 the Eagle that while crews will set final girders for the new bridge on Monday and Wednesday, that work will not have any traffic impacts. MoDOT appreciates your patience.
This work is part of MoDOT’s $405-million project to rebuild and expand the 20-mile stretch of I-70 between Columbia and Kingdom City.