Missouri Kicks Off Fifth Improve I-70 Project

New $104 million construction will add third lane in each direction between Boonville and Rocheport

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:02am

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An extreme close-up photograph of the rough, pebbled surface of freshly laid asphalt, conveying the raw materials and engineering behind a major highway construction project.The groundbreaking for a new $104 million project to expand I-70 between Boonville and Rocheport marks the latest step in Missouri's broader infrastructure initiative.Boonville Today

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), along with construction partners Capital Paving & Construction and Burns & McDonnell, held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 3rd to mark the start of the fifth Improve I-70 project. This $104 million design-bid-build project will add a third lane in each direction to a 13-mile stretch of I-70 between Boonville and the Rocheport Bridge, as well as widen two bridges along the corridor.

Why it matters

The Improve I-70 program is a major infrastructure initiative to expand and modernize a critical highway that connects central Missouri. This latest project is part of a broader effort to improve traffic flow, safety, and capacity along the I-70 corridor, which is a vital economic artery for the state.

The details

The Boonville to Rocheport project will add a third lane in each direction to a 13-mile section of I-70, as well as widen two bridges along the route. Construction is being led by Capital Paving & Construction after the project was designed by Burns & McDonnell and awarded in February 2026. While two lanes will remain open during peak travel times, drivers can expect reduced speed limits and narrowed lanes during the construction period.

  • The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 3, 2026.
  • Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026.
  • Three Improve I-70 projects will be underway in central Missouri by summer 2026.

The players

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

The state transportation agency overseeing the Improve I-70 program and the Boonville to Rocheport project.

Capital Paving & Construction

The construction firm awarded the $104 million contract to execute the Boonville to Rocheport project.

Burns & McDonnell

The engineering firm that designed the Boonville to Rocheport project.

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What’s next

By summer 2026, three Improve I-70 Program projects will be underway in central Missouri, between Boonville and Kingdom City.

The takeaway

The Boonville to Rocheport project is the latest step in Missouri's broader effort to expand and modernize the critical I-70 corridor, which will improve traffic flow, safety, and capacity across the region.