SPRINGFIELD, Mo — The Missouri Department of Transportation will host the ceremony kicking off construction of the I-44 corridor upgrades this Friday, April 4.
The project will add a third lane in both directions between U.S. Route 65 and Missouri Route 13 in both directions. It will also repair three bridges over the I-44 at Broadway, Grant, and National avenues. A pedestrian underpass will also be constructed under Grant Avenue, and make improvements to the trail.
The groundbreaking ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m. on the grounds of Crossway Baptist Church at 2900 N. Barnes Avenue in Springfield. Several officials with the State of Missouri will speak at the event:
- Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe
- Congressman Eric Burlison, Missouri Congressional District 7
- Senator Lincoln Hough, Missouri Senate District 30
- Representative Bill Owen, Missouri House Rep. in District 131
- Warren K. Erdman, MO Highways and Transportation Commission Chair
- Sara Fields, Ozarks Transportation Organization Executive Director
The project has a $70.7 million price tag, including $13.4 million from General Revenue funding. MoDOT is working through a study to see what improvements are necessary from the Missouri/Oklahoma stateline up through the Franklin County/St. Louis County line…