Motorists will still have access to westbound I-70 from Benton Boulevard during this closure. | Photo by Dorri Partain

Dorri Partain

Managing Editor

BREAKING: MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION– Crews will be performing a long-term closure of Benton Boulevard beneath Interstate 70 between Truman Road and 13th Street beginning at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6, for work related to the Improve I-70 Kansas City project. Southbound traffic on Benton Boulevard will continue to have access to the I-70 westbound on-ramp throughout the closure. A signed detour will be in place and will utilize 13th Street, Indiana Avenue and Truman Road. The closure is scheduled to last until Summer 2027. All work is weather permitting.

The Improve I-70 KC project is a five-mile stretch of Interstate 70 between The Paseo Boulevard and US 40/31st Street in Kansas City. This section of I-70 was built in the early 1960s and carries up to 120,000 vehicles per day. The $237 million project will replace aging infrastructure, improve connectivity with heavy traffic congestion during rush hours and traffic incidents. This project includes the rehabilitation or replacement of 12 interchanges and 26 bridges. Overall, the project will improve the safety and reliability of this corridor section, maintain the serviceability of bridges and pavement and improve accessibility for the local community, while minimizing the overall traffic impacts along the corridor. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2025 with an anticipated project completion by December 2028. For more information about the project and to sign up for traffic alerts and updates related to the project, visit https://www.modot.org/improvei70kc.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.

For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit its website at www.modot.org/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on X, or share posts and comments on its Facebook at: www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity/. MoDOT Kansas City maintains more than 7,000 miles of state roadway in nine counties. Sign up online for work zone updates or call 888-ASK-MODOT 275-6636.