MoDOT to host public open house meetings on I-44 improvements in Phelps County

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Transportation is hosting two open-house style informational meetings to provide the public an update on improvements along Interstate 44 in and near the communities of Rolla and St. James.

Both meetings will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, with no formal presentation, allowing attendees to come and go at any time during the hours below. The materials presented at both locations will be the same, so interested parties can choose the time and location that is most convenient for them:

Rolla

1:30-2:30 p.m. at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street.

St. James

5:30-6:30 p.m. at St. James Council Chambers, 1320 Nelson Hart Drive.

MoDOT is committed to providing equal access to these events for all participants. If you need a reasonable accommodation or translation services, please contact MoDOT by (insert date) by calling 573-522-5178 or by emailing [email protected] so arrangements can be made.

At a public meeting held in Rolla in April 2026, MoDOT presented information on improvements planned along the I-44 corridor, including different interchange options at the Route V and Route 68/8 interchanges (Exits 189 and 195). Public input was taken at the meeting and during a comment period that followed.

Based on the feedback received from local stakeholders, meeting attendees, first responders, business owners, and others, preferred interchange designs are ready to be presented to the public, along with more information regarding the rebuilding and reconstruction of several miles of I-44.

These improvements are intended to enhance roadway safety, improve traffic flow, and address aging infrastructure. The projects are in the preliminary design stage, which are expected to be completed in October 2026. They are scheduled to go out for contractor bidding in spring 2027, with construction starting as early as summer 2027. These projects are expected to continue through at least late 2028.

Project details and all exhibits from the in-person meetings will be available here: https://www.modot.org/projects/interstate-44-corridor-upgrades-laclede-and-phelps-counties.

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.

For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation-related matters, please visit our Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/ or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with us on social media:

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