MoDot adds more KC area projects to five year plan

[GRID]

Well, MoDot added a few more major projects in the KC region.

· Jackson County, I-70 & I-435, improve capacity Blue Ridge Cut-off & Rt. 40, $34 million

· Jackson County, I-70 & Rt. 40, relocated north outer road Grain Valley, $4 million

· Johnson County, Rt. 13, Warrensburg relocation north of Rt. 50, $22 million

Does this mean that I-70 under 435 will soon have three through lanes each way?  I hope so.

"While it's great news to be able to pursue this additional work, we can't overlook the fact that in this program the Amendment 3 bond proceeds are used up, and our state transportation program goes back to critically low spending levels," MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. "The program we're proposing marks the shift from having the opportunity to build new projects to barely maintaining what we have."

I hope they can find a way to raise money after this bond stuff dries up.  It won't take long for the roads to get back to the way they were in 1990 otherwise.

http://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/Distri ... wsId=18179

[ignatius]

How about overpasses on 71 Hwy to get rid of those stoplights.

[NDTeve]

IF they did this...the interstate to New Orleans would be almost complete.

[BigBill33]

How about overpasses on 71 Hwy to get rid of those stoplights.

Why are there stoplights on MO-71 anyway?  Isn't it ironic that the best looking and organized highway (north of 75th street) is in the poorest neighborhood?  Is there any indication that the stretch between 75th street and I-435 will be improved?

[aknowledgeableperson]

A very long story about the stoplights.
The short version is that the stoplights were the result of a lawsuit against the building of a highway.  The stoplights converts the highway to a local road through the neighborhood.

[BigBill33]

I vaguely remember hearing about that from a co-worker when I first moved here from Denver.  That logic is nuts, but after living here for a few years, it doesn't surprise me!