A 3-mile segment of I-70 in Kansas City will be closed in 2027: What to know
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- MODOT will close the 3-mile I-70 segment from Prospect to Van Brunt for 11 months in 2027.
- The $237 million Improve I-70 KC project will replace 15 bridges and add a fourth lane.
- Drivers should use I-435, I-35, I-29, I-635, or US-71 as alternative routes.
For 11 months in 2027, the Missouri Department of Transportation will be completely closing a major 3-mile stretch of I-70 from Prospect Avenue to Van Brunt Boulevard in Kansas City.
Separate from the $2.8 billion Statewide Improve I-70 program, the Improve I-70 KC project will start closures in January and last through December.
MoDOT said that the agency chose to go with a complete closure and not staggered stages of construction to speed up the process, minimizing “overall inconvenience to motorists and the local community.”
On ant FAQ page, MoDOT calls the closure “necessary” to ensure reliability of travel for and improve safety of pedestrians and motorists, address rainwater drainage issues plaguing the highway, and improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
What construction will happen during the complete closure?
The $237 million project, which started in 2025, will replace 15 bridges, rehabilitate seven bridges, reconstruct the low-speed Benton and Jackson curves and add a fourth eastbound I-70 thru lane. New pedestrian bridges will also be added, and improvements will be made to pedestrian and bicyclist facilities in compliance with ADA standards and KC Bike Plan.
In 2025, the project added a pedestrian bridge at 25th Street and replaced the bridges at 23rd Street. In 2026, phase two includes current construction replacing bridges at 27th Street, Cleveland Avenue and Lister Avenue and the pedestrian bridge at Oakley Avenue.
In 2027, MoDOT will:
- Replace mainline bridges in the 3-mile stretch
- Finish construction on Jackson and Benton curves, which began with off-road construction in 2025, to allow drivers to safely travel at the posted 55-mph speed limit
- Add a fourth eastbound I-70 thru lane Prospect Avenue to the bridge over Manchester Trafficway and the Blue River
According to a 2026 update video, upgrades for the Improve I-70 KC project are expected to fully conclude by spring 2028. Construction updates are also posted to MoDOT’s website.
Where is traffic being directed to?
The highway closure may affect traffic for Chiefs and Royals games due to its position between downtown KC and the stadiums. MoDOT encourages people to seek alternative routes during the 11-month closure. To minimize local traffic, most city streets near I-70 will remain open.
Drivers within the metro are encouraged to use I-435, I-35, I-29, I-635 and US-71 highways to navigate. Travelers passing through Kansas City will be directed to I-435 and I-470 using overhead message boards.
What routes are being recommended instead?
Here are some of the potential alternative routes, and more are provided on MoDOT’s website:
- From downtown to Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums: I-35 northbound to I-435 southbound, or US-71 southbound to I-435 northbound
- The same route in reverse works to get back to downtown from the stadiums — I-435 northbound to I-35 southbound
- From KCI to I-70 eastbound (Blue Springs/Independence): I-435 eastbound to I-435 southbound
- From I-70 eastbound to KCI: I-435 northbound to I-435 westbound
- From western KC metro to eastern KC metro: I-435 southbound to I-435 eastbound to I-470 westbound to I-470 northbound to I-70
- From eastern KC metro to western KC metro: I-470 southbound to I-470 westbound to I-435 westbound to I-435 northbound to I-70
Mobile GPS services can be utilized to find additional routes, because they should reflect the I-70 closure.
