Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa traffic impacts (Oct. 20, 2026 update)

JACKSON & LAFAYETTE COUNTIES - The Missouri Department of Transportation is conducting the following traffic impacts along Interstate 70 for work on the Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa project. All work is weather permitting.

Blue Springs Area

ONGOING: Intermittent lane closures on I-70 eastbound and westbound.

UPCOMING: Single lane closure on I-70 eastbound between Woods Chapel Rd. & Missouri Route 7 from Wednesday, Oct. 21 until Friday, Oct. 23, from approximately 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily, for sign construction work.

NOW OPEN: Third lane of I-70 westbound now open between Routes AA/BB (Buckner Tarsney Rd.) (Exit 24) and Missouri Route 7 (Exit 20).

*NEW* OPENING SOON: Third lane of I-70 eastbound to open soon between Missouri Route 7 (Exit 20) and Route AA/BB (Buckner Tarsney Rd.) (Exit 24).

Grain Valley Area:

ONGING: Traffic shift in place on I-70 eastbound with narrowed lanes and intermittent lane closures between approximately mile marker 25.6 (near Sni-A-Bar Creek Bridge) and mile marker 25.4 (east of Lefholz Rd. bridge).

NOW OPEN: Third lane of I-70 westbound now open between Routes AA/BB (Buckner Tarsney Rd.) (Exit 24) and Missouri Route 7 (Exit 20).

*NEW* OPENING SOON: Third lane of I-70 eastbound to open soon between Missouri Route 7 (Exit 20) and Route AA/BB (Buckner Tarsney Rd.) (Exit 24).

Oak Grove Area

ONGING: Traffic shift in place on I-70 eastbound with narrowed lanes and intermittent lane closures between approximately mile marker 25.6 (near Sni-A-Bar Creek Bridge) and mile marker 25.4 (east of Lefholz Rd. bridge).

Bates City Area

ONGOING: Intermittent lane closures for bridge replacement work at Route D (Exit 31).

*REVISED* UPCOMING: Crews to close the on-and-off ramp at I-70 westbound at Route D (Exit 31) in Bates City overnight from Wednesday, Oct. 21 at approximately 7 p.m. until Thursday, Oct. 22 at approximately 6 a.m., for striping and pavement marking operations.

*REVISED* UPCOMING: Crews to close the on-and-off ramp at I-70 eastbound at Route D/Z (Exit 31) in Bates City overnight from Thursday, Oct. 22 at approximately 7 p.m. until Friday, Oct. 23 at approximately 6 a.m., for striping and pavement marking operations.

Odessa Area

ONGOING: I-70 eastbound truck parking area at approximately mile marker 35 is CLOSED for construction staging until Fall 2027 (began Oct. 6, 2026).

ONGOING: Johnson Drive bridge over I-70 is closed until Feb. 2027 for bridge replacement (began Sept. 16, 2026).

ONGOING: Odessa commuter lot CLOSED on Outer Rd. (Old Hwy 40) until late 2027 for construction staging (began April 14, 2026).

ONGOING: Traffic shift in place on I-70 with narrowed lanes and intermittent lane closures between Lafayette Co. Routes M/O (mile marker 41) and Lafayette Co. Route H (mile marker 45) until Dec. 2026 for pavement reconstruction.

UPCOMING: Lane closures on I-70 westbound near Route M/O (Exit 41) from Tuesday, Oct. 20 at approximately 6 p.m. until Saturday, Oct. 24 at approximately 5 a.m. for pavement repair work. During this traffic change, I-70 westbound traffic will utilize the ramps at Route M/O to continue westbound and the Route M/O bridge will be closed. Traffic attempting to navigate from the north side of I-70 to the south side over the Route M/O bridge are encouraged to use the outer road east to Route H to cross over the interstate.

Entire Project Area:

Speed limit reduced to 55 mph from Missouri Route 7 (mile maker 20) and Lafayette Co. Route H (mile marker 45.3) for the duration of the project. Details: Speed limit reduced to 55 mph in Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa project limits | Missouri Department of Transportation

Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa is the third project in MoDOT's Statewide Improve I-70 Program and will add a third lane of travel in each direction to I-70 from just west of MO Route 7 in Blue Springs to approximately MO Route H. The project also includes interchange improvements at Route D in Bates City and at MO Route 131 in Odessa. The project was awarded in Spring 2025 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028.

Missouri's FY2024 budget, approved through the state legislative process and signed into law by the 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-mails, 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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