Project Overview
Interstate
70 in Jackson County is one of the most vital commercial and commuter
arteries in the Kansas City region.
Every day, this key
thoroughfare carries tens of thousands of travelers and tons of
goods to destinations throughout the Kansas City region and beyond.
Clearly, Interstate
70 in Jackson County is important to the Kansas City region.
But as any regular commuter knows, the traffic does not
always flow smoothly. State and regional transportation
leaders want to fix that.
Recognizing the importance
of a safe and efficient I-70, the Missouri Department of Transportation,
the Mid-America Regional Council and the Kansas City Area Transit
Authority have launched the I-70 Major Investment Study (I-70
MIS). The I-70 MIS will evaluate methods of improving
the safety and efficiency of travel on the Interstate through
Jackson County.
A key piece of any MIS is public input.
The I-70 MIS strives to be "ahead of the curve" on evaluating
improvements to I-70 in Jackson County by collecting input from
you.
Challenges and
Opportunities
The MIS so far has identified
these challenges and opportunities to improving I-70 in Jackson
County:
Rush hour traffic,
in some areas, runs more than 20 MPH slower than the posted limits.
Traffic on I-70 is expected to increase, adding to the problem.
Pavement and
bridges are deteriorating and will need repair or replacement.
The trend toward serious
accidents has increased over the past 10-years.
Heavy traffic
and limited capacity causes traffic on some ramps to
back up onto the interstate, especially during rush hour.
Highway Deficiencies
- I-70 is over 40 years old. It was not designed to
carry the volume of traffic that it carries today.
Additionally:
- Curves at Benton Boulevard
and Jackson Avenue are tight and narrow
- There are several different
ramp configurations
- Some ramps are too short
or too close together
- Sight distances are poor
for signs and lighting
- Shoulders are too narrow
The lack of a transit
center limits the use of express bus service, bus rapid
transit, ridesharing and other mass transit.
Increased maintenance
and operating costs make funding a significant challenge.
MoDOT is responsible for the nation's seventh-largest highway
system, but is ranked 46th in dollars allocated per mile to maintain
that system.
Potential economic
losses due to poor road conditions can affect local
businesses as well as regional and state economies.
