MoDOT to Shift I-70 Westbound Traffic November 17
Crews will move westbound Interstate 70 traffic to a new setup near Rocheport and Midway exits as part of ongoing Columbia-area construction.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Construction
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The Missouri Department of Transportation plans to shift westbound Interstate 70 traffic beginning November 17, 2026, near the Rocheport and Midway exits. Temporary overnight and multi-day exit closures will allow crews to adjust pavement height differences before the new traffic setup takes effect.
Why it matters
The shift is part of the ongoing Rocheport to Columbia construction, where two of the new lanes have been completed. Drivers on the Columbia corridor should expect reduced lane widths and altered exit access while the work continues.
MoDOT reports two of the new Rocheport to Columbia lanes are finished, with lane width reduced to 10 feet and the speed limit cut to 55 mph through spring 2027. The exact completion date for the westbound lanes has not been announced.
The players
Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)
The state agency responsible for Missouri's highway system, overseeing the Interstate 70 reconstruction and traffic shift in the Columbia area.
The details
Crews will adjust pavement height differences to move westbound traffic to the new configuration, using overnight closure of the Exit 115 off-ramp on November 17 and a closure of Exit 121 from November 17 to 19. Separately, Clark Lane sidewalk construction has been delayed to begin November 9, and the Creekwood Parkway entrance from Clark Lane will be closed during that work.
Timeline
November 9, 2026: Clark Lane sidewalk construction begins and the Creekwood Parkway entrance closes.
November 17, 2026: Westbound I-70 traffic shift begins and the Exit 115 off-ramp closes overnight.
November 17-19, 2026: Exit 121 is closed for pavement adjustments.
Spring 2027: Reduced 10-foot lane widths and 55 mph speed limit are scheduled to end.
Market Landscape
The Rocheport to Columbia I-70 project is being delivered in stages, with the eastbound and westbound lanes rebuilt in sequence to keep the corridor open. This phased approach is how MoDOT has handled major Columbia-area interstate work, minimizing extended full closures.
Drivers using westbound I-70 near Rocheport and Midway should expect the Exit 115 off-ramp to close overnight on November 17 and Exit 121 to close through November 19. Lanes will be 10 feet wide and the speed limit will be 55 mph until spring 2027.
The takeaway
Plan westbound I-70 commutes around the November 17 to 19 exit closures and expect slower speeds through spring 2027. Check MoDOT updates before traveling through the Columbia corridor.
What happens next
Clark Lane sidewalk construction begins November 9, 2026, and the westbound I-70 traffic shift starts November 17, 2026, with Exit 121 closed November 17 to 19.
Further reading
For more on the corridor's progress, see Construction coverage across the Columbia area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Columbia Missourian.
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