The changes will include the complete replacement of the Highway 47 overpass on Interstate 70.
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Significant changes are coming to the Highway 47 interchange with Interstate 70 in Warrenton as part of the Improve I-70 project from Warrenton to Wentzville.
The $600 million project is the largest in MoDOT’s history and will widen I-70 to three lanes from the intersection with Interstate 64 to exit 191 in Warrenton.
It will also include extensive changes to the intersections at Routes F and J in Wright City and Highway T in Foristell, which were unveiled when the bid for the project was awarded to the Improve I-70 Alliance Joint Venture on Nov. 8.
Northeast District Engineer Jeff Niemeyer said the rendering for the Highway 47 interchange was not released at the bid award because it was not a requirement of the contract and was “value added” by the contractor.
The changes to the intersection will be extensive, and will focus on the westbound exit on I-70. Under the plan proposed, the westbound exit would travel under the Highway 47 overpass to a roundabout on the north outer road that would also connect to the westbound entrance ramp.
Niemeyer said the plans would rework the stoplights on Highway 47 at the interchange. There are currently a series of stop lights next to each other that are prone to congestion especially during high traffic hours.
Right now, there is one stop light for traffic to enter and exit the interstate, and another one just to the north that connects with the outer road.
With the addition of the new exit ramp and the roundabout, those intersections will be combined with one stop light, said Niemeyer.
“It’ll have traffic flowing a lot better than the existing design,” said Niemeyer.
Roundabouts have been a staple of the designs released for the improvements to the corridor, and will play a significant role in the changes to interchanges in Wright City and Foristell as well.
Niemeyer said due to the proximity of the outer roads to the interstate in the corridor, roundabouts were a more efficient option compared to traditional intersections.
The changes to the Highway 47 interchange will also remove the MoDOT commuter lot on the northwest side of the intersection and will mean the replacement of the Highway 47 overpass.
Niemeyer said the bridge, along with the interstate, will need to be widened.
He said MoDOT plans to hold public input meetings on the proposed changes in Warrenton and Wentzville some time in February, although those dates have not yet been finalized.
Additional information on the project can be found on MoDOT’s website at https://www.modot.org/improvei70/warrentonwentzville and questions can be submitted to improvei70@modot.mo.gov.
