Missouri Ramps Up Road Construction on I-70 and Highway 44

MoDOT breaks ground on fifth section of Improve I-70 project, adding third lanes in both directions

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:48pm

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An abstract, colorful image of a vehicle in motion on a highway, with the car's shape blurred into sweeping streaks of color, conveying the dynamism and speed of Missouri's infrastructure upgrades.Missouri's ambitious highway construction projects aim to modernize and enhance safety across the state's vital transportation corridors.Blue Springs Today

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has begun construction on the fifth section of its Improve I-70 project, adding a third lane of travel in each direction on a 13-mile stretch between Missouri Route 5 in Boonville and the Lance Corporal Leon Deraps I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport. The $2.8 billion Improve I-70 program will add a third lane across nearly 200 miles of Interstate 70 from Blue Springs to Wentzville, with all construction crews being Missouri-based. MoDOT is also working on the $471 million Forward 44 project to repair sections of Highway 44 from Springfield to St. Louis.

Why it matters

The Improve I-70 and Forward 44 projects are major infrastructure investments that will enhance safety, efficiency, and connectivity across Missouri's highway system. With construction season in full swing, these projects represent the state's commitment to modernizing its roads and addressing long-standing transportation challenges.

The details

The fifth section of the Improve I-70 project, between Boonville and Rocheport, was designed by Burns & McDonnell and awarded to Capital Paving and Construction in February with a low bid of approximately $104 million. The project includes plans to widen two I-70 bridges, one over the Union Pacific Railroad and one just west of the Lance Corporal Leon Deraps I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport. The Forward 44 project, a $471 million initiative, will repair problematic sections of Highway 44 from Springfield to St. Louis.

  • MoDOT broke ground on the fifth section of the Improve I-70 project on April 3, 2026.
  • Construction on the Boonville to Rocheport project is scheduled for completion in late 2028.
  • The Improve I-70 program is anticipated to be fully completed by the end of 2030.

The players

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

The state agency responsible for maintaining and improving Missouri's transportation infrastructure, including Interstate 70 and Highway 44.

Ed Hassinger

The director of MoDOT, overseeing the Improve I-70 and Forward 44 projects.

Tim Taylor

The Bunceton State Representative, who expressed support for the safety benefits of the Improve I-70 project.

Burns & McDonnell

The engineering firm that designed the fifth section of the Improve I-70 project between Boonville and Rocheport.

Capital Paving and Construction

The construction company awarded the contract for the Boonville to Rocheport project, with a low bid of approximately $104 million.

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What they’re saying

“We are thrilled to have more than half of the corridor under contract and really under construction now, with the rest of it really to be under contract by the middle of next year.”

— Ed Hassinger, MoDOT Director

“This is pretty monumental, and for Missouri to be a leader in that, to rebuild an entire corridor, you just don't see that around the country.”

— Ed Hassinger, MoDOT Director

“When it came time for me to think about this project and what it could do for that alone, the safety aspects, it was an easy sale.”

— Tim Taylor, Bunceton State Representative

What’s next

MoDOT plans to have the rest of the Improve I-70 corridor under contract by the middle of 2027, with the full program anticipated to be completed by the end of 2030.

The takeaway

Missouri's ambitious infrastructure projects on I-70 and Highway 44 demonstrate the state's commitment to modernizing its transportation network and improving safety, efficiency, and connectivity for drivers across the region.