Warrenton’s new west Interstate 70 interchange opened to traffic late in the afternoon Thursday, Aug. 30. A portion of the construction area along Veterans Memorial Parkway had opened earlier …
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Warrenton’s new west Interstate 70 interchange opened to traffic late in the afternoon Thursday, Aug. 30.
A portion of the construction area along Veterans Memorial Parkway had opened earlier this year, but the I-70 entrance/exit ramps, overpass bridge and a connection to the north outer road had remained closed until this week.
A ceremony Aug. 21 celebrated the landmark project ahead of its opening date and dedicated the bridge as the Jerry Dyer Memorial Bridge, named after the late Mayor Jerry Dyer.
Drivers using the new interchange will have to navigate a feature that many Warren County residents might not be familiar with. Roundabouts control the flow of traffic at the north and south ends of the overpass bridge. There are no traffic lights.
Drivers approaching a roundabout are required to slow down and yield to any vehicles already in the roundabout. That applies even to drivers exiting the interstate. Treat the dotted line like a stop sign until any vehicles pass.
Another roundabout at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Highway MM was completed in June.
Also new is the three-way stop intersection on the north outer road at the new bridge connection. Drivers traveling the north outer road should be mindful of the new stop signs for all directions of traffic.
Some visual improvements to the interchange are still a work in progress. Landscaping will be done later this fall when conditions are more favorable for planting, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) stated.
The cost of the interchange project came out to just over $8.5 million, according to MoDOT. The project was fully funded by two half-cent sales taxes approved by the residents of Warrenton in 2016.
Construction company Emery Sapp & Sons Inc. was contracted to build the interchange. In includes a pedestrian walkway across the bridge to accommodate future foot traffic in the area. The Jerry Dyer Memorial Bridge also provides a second route to travel between the north and south sides of I-70.
“This project will provide increased access to an expanding municipality,” said MoDOT engineer Erik Maninga. “We are happy to coordinate with the city of Warrenton as it celebrates progress in the community with this major project.”
The new west I-70 interchange in Warrenton was officially opened for traffic Thursday, Aug. 30.
