Freeway Fix: I-44 in SGF gets more money for big upgrades

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – On Friday, Governor Mike Parson signed the 2025 state budget for the coming year. The $50-billion spending plan includes money for several projects across southwest Missouri, including $577-million for expanding Interstate 44. The money for 44 ended up being $150-million less than what lawmakers requested (following a line item veto by the governor). However, the remaining amount will still go a long way toward paying for a big chunk of the 250-mile-long project between Saint Louis, Springfield, and Joplin. The state says the long-range goal is to widen the highway from four to six lanes as it’s currently doing to I-70 across the state between the Saint Louis and Kansas City metro areas.

FOX49/KOLR10 reached out to MoDOT about which portions of the project could be built first.  The agency says it’s working on the construction program.

“We appreciate the additional funding from the General Assembly and the Governor. We are working on the final information from budget approval Friday,” explained Taylor Burne, Assistant Communications Director for MoDOT. “The DRAFT FY2025-2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program will be presented for approval at the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission meeting on July 10. After that decision, we will have more details on what’s planned for I-44.”

The money in the new budget will be combined with $121 million already set aside for projects in Springfield which are set to begin in the coming months. Those will include widening the freeway from four to six lanes between U.S. 65, Glenstone Ave, and Kansas Expressway.  It also entails completely rebuilding the Kansas Expy. the interchange with a flyover ramp. That new configuration would allow the stoplights at Norton Road to be removed (the two sides of Norton will be linked with a tunnel underpass below Kansas Expy).

Other I-44 projects on the list include rebuilding or rehabilitating bridges for National Ave, Grant Ave, Broadway Ave., Melville Rd., and Division St (Route EE).  According to MoDOT, there will also be a new concrete median barrier separating the east and west lanes, as well as sound walls along certain segments near neighborhoods to reduce the noise generated by vehicles on the highway.

Money has also previously been set aside to study and design plans for extending the six-laning project east to Strafford (Route 125) and west to James River Freeway (Route 360).  Those additional segments could benefit from the newly approved money in the state budget.

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