Construction comes to a close on I-70 Missouri River Bridge

ROCHEPORT, Mo. — Missouri's governor is calling it the new bridge over the Missouri River in the central part of the state a win for everyone.

The Lance Corporal Leon Derapes I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport is expected to help the flow of traffic along one of the state's busiest interstates. Nearly 50,000 vehicles drive across the bridge daily. By adding an extra lane in both directions, it's the first part of Interstate 70 between Wentzville and Blue Springs to hold six lanes of traffic.

"I do believe you will see other states follow suite with Missouri and build six lanes to follow us," Gov. Mike Parson said after Tuesday's ribbon cutting. "No matter if you live up here, or you live anywhere in this state, this is a good day for the state of Missouri."

Parting ways with a 60-year-old bridge rated in poor condition. In its place, a new structure that includes two bridges, one in each direction, carrying three lanes of traffic. The two-structure approach helped minimize the impact on the public during construction, making each bridge wide enough to expand to four lanes.

"It's really a pivotal project as it's really part of the national freight network and so we had a bottleneck in the middle of the country," Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Director Ed Hassinger said.

The bridge is located just west of Columbia, near mile marker 113 on Interstate 70. The $240 million project improved a corridor that carries products sold across the country. A third of the cost was paid for with a federal grant, Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA).

"It will change the landscape of this state forever," Parson said. "You're going to see the economy get better; it's going to be safer for people to come here. I remember going to D.C. for the first time, talking about funding for this, and figuring out if this is even possible to do. Then, to stand out here today at the podium, seeing it being completed, it's a big day."

This new bridge is the start of a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar project to widen I-70 across the state.

"Now this one is done, and we don't have to worry about it; we just have to connect to it," Hassinger said. "At the end of the day, this sets the tone for some really big things happening in Missouri. It sets the tone for the ability to do six lanes of I-70 across the entire state."

Missouri's next governor said this bridge is a key piece to Missouri's infrastructure system.

"It's sorely needed; it's part of an incredible corridor across our state," Governor-elect Mike Kehoe said. "It will lead to incredible opportunities for families all across Missouri."

The first bridge was built to the north of the former bridge. Then, traffic was moved to the new bridge in 2023 with four lanes of traffic, two in each direction, while the former bridge was demolished. Finally, the second bridge was constructed.

Later this month, eastbound drivers will start using the second of the two new bridges, with construction to be fully completed this spring.