Motorists will have access to Interstate 70 during this Truman Road closure. East and west traffic will be detoured to 12th Street beginning at 8 p.m., on Friday, April 4. | Photo by Dorri Partain
Motorists will have access to Interstate 70 during this Truman Road closure. East and west traffic will be detoured to 12th Street beginning at 8 p.m., on Friday, April 4. | Photo by Dorri Partain

Dorri Partain

Managing Editor

Truman Road — a major thoroughfare connecting Downtown Kansas City and Independence, will temporarily close beginning at 8 p.m., on Friday, April 11 at the Benton Boulevard interchange. This weekend closure will allow for removal of an unused bridge. The roadway will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m., on Monday, April 14.

The Northeast News originally published the start date as Friday, April 4, but inclement weather has postponed this project for one week.

During this closure, through traffic will be detoured at Prospect and Jackson Avenues to 12th Street. Motorists will still have access to exit and entrance ramps for eastbound and westbound Interstate 70 (I-70). During this time period, the left lane will be closed on I-70 eastbound between Chestnut Avenue and 18th Street.  

This interchange at Interstate 70, Benton Boulevard and Truman Road will be reconstructed for better traffic flow and safety. Work begins later this week. | Photo by Dorri Partain

This closure marks construction crews beginning a three-year project to improve traffic flow on  I-70, specifically the five-mile stretch between The Paseo and U.S. Route 40. 

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced this project last November, after selecting Clarkson-Radmacher Joint Venture as the design-build contractor. The Improve I-70 KC project will contribute to planned improvements to the I-70 corridor statewide.

The $237 million budget will fund a fourth eastbound lane from Prospect Avenue to the Manchester Avenue bridge, replace 15 bridges and rehabilitate another seven bridges.

Total reconstruction will occur from Chestnut Avenue to 18th street (Benton curve) and eastbound I-70 from 27th Street to Cypress Avenue (Jackson curve).

Photo by Dorri Partain

Westbound I-70 will be rehabilitated from 27th Street to Cypress Avenue (Jackson curve).

In addition to improving safety for motorists, this reconstruction will improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists.

Construction will be completed in three phases as the project moves to targeted areas. MoDOT timelines will work to minimize construction impacts to the local community and events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Commuters are advised to visit the project webpage at http://modot.org/imporovei70kc for updates and sign up for email notifications to be aware of traffic flow changes and detours.

Barring major delays, all construction is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2028.