Two states have recently initiated multimillion-dollar projects to enhance I-70.

In Missouri, crews are extending I-70 from Warrenton to Wentzville, while in Kansas, a joint venture is managing the I-70 Polk-Quincy Viaduct project, covering a 2.5-mile section of the highway from Macvicar Avenue to 6th Avenue and local roads in Topeka.

The Missouri project has a $600 million contract, the largest ever awarded by the Missouri Department of Transportation. This is the second initiative under MoDOT’s Improve I-70 Program and involves adding a third lane in each direction from Warrenton to I-64 in Wentzville, along with replacing the existing I-70 lanes with new full-depth concrete pavement. Additionally, a third lane will be added to both eastbound and westbound I-64 between I-70 and Route K.

The project is slated for completion by late 2028.

“Today marks another historic milestone in MoDOT’s efforts to Improve I-70,” Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Vice-Chairman W. Dustin Boatwright said in a MoDOT press release. “This is a once in a generation opportunity to bring this transformative improvement to communities along I-70, the citizens of Missouri and those just traveling through.”

Bettis Koss Construction, a joint venture between Topeka-based Bettis Asphalt & Construction and Koss Construction Co., is overseeing the I-70 Polk-Quincy Viaduct project. This $239 million initiative is funded by the Kansas DOT’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, a decade-long, nearly $10 billion investment aimed at enhancing Kansas’ transportation infrastructure.

The project involves replacing the aging viaduct to improve safety, alleviate congestion, and enhance connectivity to nearby communities, as stated on the project page. Construction has begun and is expected to continue until late 2027.

“While the Polk-Quincy viaduct has served the community for over 60 years, we are investing in a modern and more efficient I-70 that will better serve residents, businesses, and visitors well into the future,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “This project reflects the priorities of the IKE transportation program, focusing on long-term solutions that benefit Kansans and support future economic growth in Topeka and beyond.”

“Breaking ground on the Polk-Quincy Viaduct project marks an important milestone for the State of Kansas, the City of Topeka, and the tens of thousands of motorists who travel I-70 daily,” added KDOT Secretary Calvin Reed. “Working together, KDOT and our partners are delivering a new corridor that will serve Kansans and travelers for generations to come.”

America’s Improving Infrastructure

Investments like those in Kansas and Missouri are significantly contributing to the enhancement of America’s road infrastructure.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) acknowledged this by awarding a D+ grade to America’s road infrastructure in its 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. Although this grade is far from excellent, it represents an improvement from the D grade given in the previous report card.

“Recent investments, including more than $591 billion since late 2021 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), are a positive step,” the ASCE wrote. “The nation’s roadways still face a $684 billion funding gap over the next 10 years. Sustained and robust infrastructure investment is needed to maintain and improve the roadway network for the future.”

Some 39% of major roads in the U.S. are in poor or mediocre condition, an improvement from the 43% recorded in 2020, according to the ASCE. Driving on deteriorated and congested roads still costs the average driver over $1,400 per year in vehicle operating costs and lost time, and the number of people dying on America’s roads remains high with 40,990 in 2023.

The ASCE also noted how extreme weather events are hampering attempts to maintain existing roads and plan future projects – and how the act of driving on these roads is exacerbating this issue.

“Transportation accounted for the most significant portion (28%) of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022,” the organization wrote. “Most of these emissions (80%) came from cars and medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Rising temperatures, fires, flooding, erosion, and severe weather strain the nation’s roadways. In addition to planning and building resiliently for the future, state departments of transportation (DOTs) need to ensure their existing infrastructure can support daily operations and facilitate the movement of people evacuating areas affected by extreme weather events.”

SiteMap® Helps Keep Road Improvement Projects on Time, on Budget, & Safe

GPRS offers a comprehensive suite of subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction & facilities project management services designed to help keep road improvement projects on time, on budget, and safe.

We utilize state-of-the-art technology such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners, electromagnetic (EM) locators, 3D laser scanners, and remote-controlled video pipe inspection crawlers to ensure the integrity of your buried infrastructure and help you avoid subsurface damage when breaking ground. Our in-house Mapping & Modeling Team can visualize the field-verified, accurate data collected by our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers to suit your planning, and operations & maintenance (O&M) needs.

All this information is at you and your team’s fingertips 24/7, accessible via any computer, tablet or smartphone thanks to SiteMap® (patent pending), our project & facility management application that provides accurate existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

Click below to schedule your live, personal SiteMap demo today.