St. Charles Road overpass to close for replacement in mid-April…

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Interstate 70 in Columbia is set to narrow and be rerouted around-the-clock in mid-April for the demolition of an overpass bridge. Motorists are advised to plan extra time as backups are anticipated.

From 7 p.m. on April 10, 2026, to 6 a.m. on April 13, 2026, construction crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation plan to demolish and remove the St. Charles Road bridge over I-70. Traffic on both I-70 and St. Charles Road will be as follows:

• I-70: Both directions of I-70 will narrow to one lane. Drivers will be directed up and over the ramps at Exit 131 (St. Charles Road) and back onto I-70.

• There will be no access to St. Charles Road.

• Charles Road: Traffic on St. Charles Road will not have direct access to or from I-70. Motorists will need to use an alternate route.

Once the demolition is complete, I-70 will return to normal traffic patterns. Those traveling on St. Charles Road will be able to use the ramps to access I-70, but will be unable to cross I-70. Signed detours will direct motorists around the closure. Construction of the new overpass bridge is expected to continue for five months, through the end of September.

The new overpass bridge will be wider to accommodate three lanes in each direction on I-70 and will be raised to increase vertical clearance for taller vehicles. The overpass will also feature pedestrian crossings and enhanced aesthetics

All work is weather-permitting and subject to change.

MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.

This work is part of the first project in MoDOT's Statewide Improve I-70 Program, Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City, which will add a third lane of travel in each direction to the 20-mile stretch of I-70 between Columbia) and Kingdom City. This $405 million fixed-cost contract includes new pavement on all three lanes of I-70 and will also make interchange improvements to the I-70 interchanges at U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 54.

Missouri's FY2024 budget, approved through the state legislative process and governor, provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue to build a third lane of I-70 across the state. The program will plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and add a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville. For more information on the Improve I-70 Program and to sign up for program e-updates, visit http://www.modot.org/improvei70.

For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.

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