MoDOT: It's Too Early to Determine Final Downtown Access Plans for I-229 Project

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Department of Transportation officials are urging the public not to draw conclusions about the future of downtown access as planning continues for the long-discussed Interstate 229 reconstruction project.

According to reporting by the St. Joseph News-Press, Project Director Joyce Reynolds addressed growing concerns Tuesday from business owners and downtown stakeholders who fear the project could eliminate convenient access into the city's core.

The proposed project, which has been in development since 2019, calls for the removal of the aging double-decker section of Interstate 229 along the Missouri River. In its place, MoDOT plans to construct a new four-lane, ground-level roadway. Current concepts would eliminate the existing entrance and exit ramps at Francis, Felix, Edmond and Charles streets.

Those proposed changes have sparked concern among downtown businesses and community leaders who believe losing direct interstate access could negatively impact economic activity and reduce convenience for residents and visitors.

Aging Infrastructure Driving the Project

Reynolds explained that the removal of the ramps is directly tied to the condition of the elevated structure itself.

She said the double-decker bridge has reached the end of its useful life and would require extensive rehabilitation if it were left in place. That work could cost nearly $100 million, with additional major repairs likely needed again within the following decade.

Rather than continuing an expensive cycle of repairs, MoDOT believes replacing the structure with a ground-level roadway is the more practical long-term solution.

While the existing downtown ramps are expected to be removed as part of the project, Reynolds emphasized that MoDOT is still evaluating possible alternatives to maintain access into downtown.

The department is currently studying different options, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of potential new access points before any final decisions are made.

One of Missouri's Most Unique Bridges

The double-decker section of I-229 has served motorists for more than four decades and is one of only two bi-level interstate bridges in Missouri. The other is located on Interstate 64 in St. Louis.

Reynolds noted, however, that the two bridges experience dramatically different traffic volumes.

While the St. Louis structure carries well over 100,000 vehicles each day, most sections of I-229 see fewer than 5,000 daily vehicles, with only one portion approaching roughly 19,000 vehicles per day.

She said many motorists use the roadway primarily as a connector between downtown and southern St. Joseph rather than as a traditional interstate highway.

Safety Remains a Priority

Although Reynolds stressed the bridge remains safe for travel, she acknowledged it requires increasing maintenance.

The structure undergoes inspections every two years, lacks modern seismic design standards and has relied on a temporary support pier since 2019.

Those factors, combined with its age and relatively low traffic volumes, contributed to the decision to replace the elevated interstate rather than invest heavily in continued rehabilitation.

Additional Options Still Being Explored

MoDOT is also evaluating whether the roadway could eventually be redesignated as a Missouri state route instead of remaining part of the Interstate Highway System.

According to Reynolds, that change could provide greater flexibility during design by allowing shorter acceleration and deceleration lanes, simpler intersections and additional at-grade crossings that are not typically permitted on interstate highways.

Public Input Will Continue

Reynolds said MoDOT understands why residents and business owners are passionate about preserving convenient access to downtown and intends to continue meeting with affected stakeholders throughout the planning process.

She emphasized that no final decision has been made regarding future downtown access, saying the department is continuing to evaluate possibilities and remains open to discussion.

Construction on the I-229 replacement project is currently scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2030, according to MoDOT's current project timeline.

Source: Reporting by the St. Joseph News-Press.