I-70 Gridlock Looms: MoDOT Launches Week of Widespread Closures | The Locally Times
From Jackson County lighting upgrades to downtown Kansas City earthwork, MoDOT's overlapping projects on I-70 and I-35 will trigger significant delays and force alternate routes for drivers across central and western Missouri starting Monday.
Drivers navigating Interstate 70 across central and western Missouri face a week of widespread disruption, with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) launching multiple, overlapping roadwork projects from Monday, April 6, through mid-April. From lighting upgrades in Jackson County to major earthwork near downtown Kansas City, motorists should brace for significant delays and plan alternate routes. Initial closures for lighting work in Jackson County are scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., though MoDOT cautions all work is subject to weather conditions. ## I-70 Closures Extend Across Kansas City Area Beyond the specific Jackson County lighting work, MoDOT documents reveal a broader array of disruptions across the Kansas City metropolitan area. Nightly lane closures are slated along the I-70 corridor near downtown Kansas City from Monday, April 6, until Friday, April 10, for earthwork operations tied to the Improve I-70 KC project. Additionally, MoDOT has scheduled general maintenance work across the entire Kansas City region from April 6 through April 11, impacting sections of Interstate 35 in Jackson County. Further west, intermittent lane and ramp closures are also planned at and near NW Barry Road and I-29 in Platte County from April 6 until April 18 for striping and lighting operations. ## Statewide Infrastructure Activity Continues This upcoming week's roadwork is part of MoDOT's ongoing statewide infrastructure efforts. The department has outlined planned roadwork for both the Northwest Missouri region and the Mid-Missouri area from April 6 to April 12, encompassing general maintenance and construction activities that may include moving operations and lane closures. In a separate development, MoDOT marked milestone on April 3 with a ceremony for the Improve I-70: Boonville to Rocheport project, initiating a major upgrade to another section of the interstate. The event saw attendance from representatives of Capital Paving & Construction and Burns & McDonnell. ## Planning for Travel Disruptions Motorists traveling between Jefferson City and the Kansas City area on I-70 during the upcoming week should anticipate significant, unavoidable delays and proactively plan for alternate routes. The overlapping nature of these various closures—from lighting work and earthwork to general maintenance—guarantees potential impacts on travel times. While MoDOT's current advisories do not specify the exact ramps and lanes affected by the Jackson County lighting work, nor the precise start and end times for all nightly closures, the collective announcements signal a period of widespread and complex road activity on a critical state corridor. Drivers are strongly advised to monitor MoDOT's traffic alerts for specific details as they become available. ## Key Questions **Which specific ramps and lanes on I-70 in Jackson County will close?** MoDOT has not yet released specific details on which I-70 ramps and lanes in Jackson County will close, only indicating 'various locations' along the corridor. **How long will the I-70 disruptions near downtown Kansas City last each night?** While nightly lane closures for earthwork near downtown Kansas City are set from April 6-10, MoDOT records do not specify the exact start and end times for these nightly disruptions. **Where can drivers find updated information on these closures?** MoDOT issues traffic alerts and planned roadwork notices, which are the source of this information. Drivers should monitor MoDOT's public channels for the most current and specific details as work progresses.