80-782: Interstate 70 ( I-70 ) in the US state of Missouri is generally parallel to the Missouri River . This section of the transcontinental interstate begins at the Kansas state line on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct , running concurrently with U.S. Route 24 (US 24), US 40 and US 169 , and the east end is on the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge in St. Louis . Crossing into Missouri on
160-876: A cloverleaf interchange and finally crossing the Missouri River at Rocheport just west of where it reaches the midsized college town of Columbia in the center of the state. Through Columbia, the highway is lined with restaurants and hotels and can get congested during University of Missouri sporting events. The highway leaves Columbia after an exit with St. Charles Road on the east end of town. East of Columbia, I-70 has an interchange with US 54 at Kingdom City , Route 19 at New Florence , and Route 47 at Warrenton . Then, it continues through more gently rolling terrain until it reaches Wentzville, where it meets I-64/US 61. Here, US 40 departs from I-70. It then expands to three lanes each direction to St. Louis . East of Wentzville, I-70 passes through
240-479: A contract for pavement, other oddities happened with I-70 as well. As first proposed, the western terminus of I-70 was to be Denver . Utah and Colorado, however, pressured the federal government to extend the planned freeway farther west, arguing a direct link between Denver and Salt Lake City was vital for an effective highway system. The proposal was to follow what is now US 6 west and connect to I-15 at Spanish Fork, Utah . Federal planners, influenced by
320-473: A female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.69. In the village, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
400-563: A few hundred people along I-70's path in Utah. The second town with more than a few hundred people served by I-70 is Salina . Upon leaving the valley near Salina, I-70 crosses the 7,923-foot (2,415 m) Salina Summit and then crosses a large geologic formation called the San Rafael Swell . Prior to the construction of I-70, the swell was inaccessible via paved roads and relatively undiscovered. Once this 108-mile (174 km) section
480-518: A new alignment of I-70 as a tunnel from the southeast corner of the downtown loop to 22nd/23rd streets, covering the southern portion of the downtown loop (I-670), or making the downtown loop into a unidirectional freeway around downtown, essentially becoming a large roundabout . In March 2023, Governor Mike Parson announced a proposal to widen I-70 to six lanes (three lanes each way) across the state, which he approved in July 2023. The Missouri Hyperloop
560-607: Is 55 mph (89 km/h). From New Stanton to Breezewood , I-70 overlaps I-76 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike . This is one of only two tolled sections of I-70 (the other is in Kansas, where the portion of the Kansas Turnpike east of Topeka is signed I-70). Drivers on I-70 near Breezewood have to leave the freeway and travel a few blocks on US 30 past several traffic-lights before returning to
640-469: Is a proposed high-speed transportation route that would complement and relieve I-70. MoDOT plans to replace the Rocheport Bridge , which crosses the Missouri River near Rocheport , with two bridges. Currently, one bridge carries four lanes of I-70. Construction of one span began in 2021. Interstate 70 Interstate 70 ( I-70 ) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in
720-598: Is a village in Callaway County , Missouri , United States. It is part of the Jefferson City Metropolitan Statistical Area . The population was 128 at the 2010 census. The village lies north of the intersection of Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 54 . Kingdom City has its origins in the building of US Route 40 in 1925, at the same time US Route 54 was being planned with the intention of intersecting US 40 somewhere along
800-540: Is among the busiest section of highway in the state, with annual average daily traffic (AADT) counts approaching 165,000 in 2005. I-270 draws much of the traffic, so I-70 continues east through Bridgeton with only six lanes. After interchanges with Route 180 (St. Charles Rock Road) and US 67 ( Lindbergh Boulevard ), it passes on the southern edge of St. Louis Lambert International Airport and through several bedroom communities—including Edmundson , Berkeley , Ferguson , and Jennings —and crossing I-170 in
880-592: Is approximately the southern city limits of "City of Kansas" when it was incorporated in 1853. The first two auto bridges in Missouri mark the city's original boundaries with the Buck O'Neil Bridge (US 169) being the west boundary while the Heart of America Bridge ( Route 9 ) is the east boundary. Another intersection of note is the second traverse of I-435 . This is primarily notable because it immediately precedes
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#1732783966889960-426: Is characterized by sharp curves, limited sight distance, narrow shoulders, and lack of merge lanes at interchanges. Traffic on cloverleaf ramps must weave in the right throughlane of traffic due to the lack of a third lane for entering and exiting traffic. Other on- and offramps effectively function as right-in/right-out interchanges, forcing vehicles to weave in and out of the exit lane. The speed limit on this stretch
1040-633: Is known as the George Brett Super Highway , named after former Kansas City Royals third baseman and Baseball Hall of Fame member George Brett . The Truman Sports Complex , which houses the Royals's and Chiefs 's stadiums, is located adjacent to the I-70/ I-435 interchange. East of I-435, I-70 continues east through Independence , passing a busy cloverleaf interchange at I-470 . The highway then continues with six lanes to
1120-502: Is planned in 2024 moved from 2026. The move is from the wider project to improve I-70 across Missouri. According to the United States Census Bureau , the village has a total area of 1.82 square miles (4.71 km ), of which 1.80 square miles (4.66 km ) of it is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km ) is water. As of the census of 2010, there were 128 people, 49 households, and 34 families living in
1200-437: Is present for southbound I-71 traffic as well. The Split is being reconstructed ($ 1.4 billion) and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2026. I-670 connects John Glenn Columbus International Airport with I-270, I-71, and I-70. East of Columbus, I-70 passes through Zanesville and on to Cambridge , where it intersects I-77 . Continuing on toward West Virginia , I-70 intersects I-470 just east of St. Clairsville . I-470
1280-607: Is primarily used for through traffic and to avoid The Winter Festival of Lights traffic during the Christmas season from Oglebay Park . In March 1995, a hole (from a former coal mine) opened up on the eastbound side of I-70 in Guernsey County near Old Washington and caused traffic to be rerouted onto US 40 between Old Washington and Cambridge for several months. The portion of I-70 in West Virginia crosses
1360-458: The I-70 killer , a serial killer who committed a string of murders within a few miles of it in several Midwestern states in the early 1990s. No suspect has ever been apprehended despite the widespread publicity the murders generated, including their being featured several times on the television show America's Most Wanted and Unsolved Mysteries . John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo ,
1440-605: The Kansas River on the Intercity Viaduct into Downtown Kansas City, Missouri . After crossing the Intercity Viaduct , I-70 enters Missouri. It encounters a loop of freeways, called the Downtown Loop , which contains I-70 as well as I-35 , I-670 , US 24 , US 40 , US 71 , and US 169 . In the southern part of this loop, I-670 cuts directly through the downtown while I-70 bypasses
1520-536: The Lewis and Clark Viaduct , I-70 immediately encounters the Downtown Loop , also called the Alphabet Loop, a small but complex loop of freeways with all of its exits having the number 2 and a letter suffix that uses the entire alphabet (except I, O, and Z). I-70 runs concurrently with I-35 once it enters into the Loop. Both Interstates maintain the concurrency until they approach the northeastern corner of
1600-698: The Mississippi River on the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge , connecting with an extension of I-44 , which takes the former I-70 route through Downtown St. Louis to meet I-55 at its connection to the Poplar Street Bridge . The 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals was nicknamed the "I-70 Series" because St. Louis and Kansas City are the two endpoints of I-70 in Missouri , and
1680-461: The Missouri River , at its northern terminus. From I-635 to just past the US ;169 (7th Street) exit, I-70 runs adjacent Union Pacific Railroad 's Armourdale Yard. Here, I-670 (also designated "Alternate 70" on some signs) diverges, providing a more direct route that rejoins I-70 proper a few miles east in Missouri. The highway passes over the former stockyards and railyard when it crosses
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#17327839668891760-587: The Ohio River at Wheeling and runs through the Wheeling Tunnel . I-70 has only one throughlane in each direction at the tunnel. A major interchange was planned but never completed on the east side of the Wheeling Tunnel. Upon merging with I-470, I-70 goes uphill toward Dallas Pike. This part of the road is called "Two Mile Hill", which is known locally for the many accidents at the bottom of
1840-573: The Pennsylvania state line near Hancock east across the central portion of the state toward Baltimore , following the route of the National Road , now known as US 40 . It is a major east–west highway in the state, serving the cities of Hagerstown and Frederick and bypassing Ellicott City . East of Frederick, the route was originally designated Interstate 70N ( I-70N ). The highway serves Washington DC , via I-270 , which
1920-686: The Truman Sports Complex (home of both Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums) and also because the entrance ramps from I-435 northbound onto I-70 eastbound also serve as the exit ramps from I-70 into the Truman Sports Complex parking lots. This section of the Interstate is marked as the " George Brett Super Highway", named after the Kansas City Royals third-base player who played the entirety of his career (1973–1993) at Kauffman Stadium. The last Interstate intersection in
2000-716: The bedroom community of Lake St. Louis , then the growing towns of O'Fallon and St. Peters , and finally the historic city of St. Charles . It crosses over the Missouri River one last time on the Blanchette Memorial Bridge , which is actually made up of two bridges: the westbound span built in the late 1950s and refurbished in 2013 and the eastbound one completed in the late 1970s. Traffic volume increases as I-70 enters St. Louis County , requiring more lanes. There are as many as 13 lanes at one point. The section of I-70 from Fifth Street in St. Charles to I-270
2080-502: The "South Split" and "North Split", respectively. The I-465 beltway provides access to Fishers via Interstate 69 , which is concurrent with I-465 at the eastern interchange with I-70. I-74 meets I-70 at the western interchange with I-465, eastern access to I-74 can take place via its concurrency around the southern portion of the I-465 loop. After passing through much of the near northeast side of Indianapolis , I-70 again encounters
2160-602: The Baltimore Beltway. Until November 2014, I-70 ended at a park-and-ride lot at MD 122 as the freeway enters the city of Baltimore at exit 94. Commuters park on the pavement where high-speed freeway lanes were to be. The former freeway from I-695 to MD 122 is being converted into a two-lane parkway to be renamed Cooks Boulevard, maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration . The highway gave its name to
2240-512: The I-465 beltway, which carries a multitude of unsigned U.S. Highways and Indiana state roads. I-70 continues on nearly due east from this point, first traveling through suburban Indianapolis and then transitioning into rural east central Indiana, where it passes just to the south of New Castle . Upon reaching the Richmond area, US 35 joins I-70 just before both routes leave Indiana together and enter Ohio. I-70 enters Ohio just east of
2320-687: The Interstate in Missouri and Kansas have laid claim to be the first Interstate in the United States. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has claimed the section of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado , completed in 1992, to be the last piece of the Interstate Highway System , as originally planned, to open to traffic. The construction of I-70 in Colorado and Utah is considered an engineering marvel, as
2400-445: The Missouri River twice (as did the original US 40)—at Rocheport , about 15 miles (24 km) west of Columbia, and at St. Charles , about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of St. Louis. Most of the highway on this stretch is four lanes. Various proposals have been made to widen it (at an estimated cost of $ 3.5 billion) including turning it into a toll road. I-70 eventually gets into Greater St. Louis , and US 40 splits to
2480-757: The United States that runs from I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah , to I-695 and Maryland Route 570 (MD 570) in Woodlawn , just outside Baltimore , Maryland. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 (US 40; the old National Road ) east of the Rocky Mountains . West of the Rocky Mountains, the route of I-70 was derived from multiple sources. The Interstate runs through or near many major U.S. cities, including Denver , Topeka , Kansas City , St. Louis , Indianapolis , Columbus , Pittsburgh , and Baltimore. The sections of
Interstate 70 in Missouri - Misplaced Pages Continue
2560-427: The age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age in
2640-558: The arch. In 1959, builders of the Poplar Street Bridge asked for the National Park Service to give 25 acres (10 ha) of the park for the bridge. The request generated enormous controversy and ultimately 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) was turned over to use for the bridge. The New Mississippi River Bridge was finished and opened to traffic on Sunday, February 9, 2014. It reroutes and redirects I-70 traffic off
2720-483: The city. A series of signs warns truckers of the steep grade. As I-70 leaves the foothills, it goes through Denver and intersects I-25 , serving as the central east–west artery through the city. Leaving Denver, I-70 levels out and traverses the wide plains through eastern Colorado. East of Denver, I-70 makes a broad turn to the south-southeast for 30 miles (48 km), before reaching Limon and resuming its eastward journey toward Kansas. Coming from Colorado, I-70 enters
2800-509: The closest distances between two distinct auxiliary Interstates with the same child Interstate number. I-470 near Topeka, Kansas , and I-470 on the east side of Kansas City, Missouri , are approximately 72 miles (116 km) apart. This record is surpassed by I-291 around Hartford, Connecticut , and I-291 near Springfield, Massachusetts , which are unrelated but are 23 miles (37 km) apart. A breakdown of I-70's auxiliary routes follows: Kingdom City, Missouri Kingdom City
2880-415: The congested Poplar Street Bridge. The bridge was named in honor of St. Louis Cardinals baseball legend Stan Musial . As of 2021, US 24 follows I-70 east to I-435 north. US 24 that used to follow Independence Avenue will become a business route of US 24. I-70 across central Missouri is one of the oldest stretches of Interstate Highway in the system, as some sections date as far back as
2960-528: The duo responsible for the DC sniper attacks , were apprehended at a rest stop on I-70 near Myersville, Maryland , in 2002. The 1985 World Series was a contest between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals and won by the Royals. As these cities are primarily connected by I-70, the media has often called the series and the two teams' interleague rivalry the I-70 Series. I-70 has one of
3040-621: The east side of Dayton. Springfield is the next city, the site of Buck Creek State Park . I-70 then encounters Columbus . Columbus is bounded by I-270 and is roughly centered on the intersection of I-70 and I-71 , which share the same asphalt through a notoriously congested 1.5-mile (2.4 km) stretch locally known as the "South Innerbelt" or, more commonly, "The Split". This stretch has I-71 concurrent with I-70, where I-71 enters and exits from opposite sides of I-70, causing traffic getting on I-70 from I-71 northbound to have to cross four lanes of I-70 traffic to continue on I-71. A similar issue
3120-448: The express lane traffic patterns accordingly. These lanes have no entrance or exit ramps, except at the ends. They extend approximately eight miles (13 km) from near Union Boulevard to just north of Downtown St. Louis . Just before it enters downtown, I-70 turns to the east to cross the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge , which redirects the highway's traffic away from the congested Poplar Street Bridge two miles (3.2 km) to
3200-522: The fact the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad occupied the south bank, and many temporary construction projects took place to keep US 6 open, at the time the only east–west road in the area. Much of the highway is elevated above the Colorado River . The speed limit in this section is 50 mph (80 km/h) due to the limited sight distance and sharp corners. The Eisenhower Tunnel ,
3280-542: The first time, which allows travelers to bypass the downtown traffic via I-435, which encircles the Kansas City metropolitan area . Further down the highway in Kansas City, approximately three miles (4.8 km) before the 18th Street Expressway, I-70 is intersected again by another auxiliary route. This route, I-635 , runs from I-35 at its southern terminus up to I-29 , just about five miles (8.0 km) across
Interstate 70 in Missouri - Misplaced Pages Continue
3360-470: The freeway through Glenwood Canyon Colorado was the last major section of freeway on I-70 to be completed and widely heralded as an environmental and engineering success. As a result of freeway revolts in the Baltimore area, I-70 was not completed east of MD 122 to its planned terminus at I-95 within the city of Baltimore, and it now ends at a four-way symmetrical stack interchange with I-695 ,
3440-558: The freeway. This stretch of I-70 is one of the few gaps on the Interstate Highway System. I-70 continues on almost due south to the Maryland border after leaving I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) at Breezewood. This section is posted at 55 mph (89 km/h) and is heavily patrolled. After the border, it meets I-68 's eastern end and turns east toward Baltimore and Washington DC . In Maryland , I-70 runs from
3520-731: The highest vehicular tunnel in North America and the longest tunnel built under the Interstate program, passes through the Continental Divide . Because of the rugged and narrow terrain of the Rocky Mountains , I-70 is one of few roads connecting Colorado's ski resorts with Denver . Descending through the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, one can see the Denver skyline on a clear day. This can fool truckers and other unsuspecting drivers because one must still traverse 10 miles (16 km) of steep grade road before reaching
3600-537: The highway passes within sight of both the Royals' Kauffman Stadium and, at the time, the Cardinals' Busch Stadium . After crossing the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge , I-70 merges with I-55, while I-64 splits off I-55. When the routes intersect I-270, I-55 stays on its own pavement using the mileposts from the Poplar Street Bridge, while I-70 heads east on I-270's pavement using I-270's mileposts. Because of this arrangement, when I-55/I-70 intersects I-270 from
3680-590: The hill. I-70 has brought major development in Ohio County , the only county the route passes through in West Virginia, in the past few years. On the north side of the highway, a former strip mine was developed into a retail area called The Highlands . This stretch of I-70 is the shortest that I-70 is in any state, traveling only 15 miles (24 km) from the Ohio River to the Pennsylvania border. I-70
3760-532: The immediate Kansas City metro area is with I-470 in Independence . After passing Kansas City, I-70 traverses the length of Missouri, west to east. It passes through the largest city between Kansas City and St. Louis, Columbia , which is about halfway between the two major cities and the home of the University of Missouri . The terrain is rolling with some hills and bluffs near rivers. I-70 also crosses
3840-436: The interchange with US 40 at Richmond, Indiana . Immediately to the east of this border, travelers notice a unique teal-blue arch that spans the width of the freeway, with a "Welcome to Ohio" greeting sign above the eastbound lanes. A sign thanking travelers for visiting Ohio is mounted on the other side of the arch for westbound travelers. Continuing eastbound, I-70 intersects I-75 north of Dayton , followed by I-675 on
3920-412: The late 1950s. As a result, the exits often have short, substandard acceleration and deceleration ramps and the median is relatively narrow. Certain spots of both directions of traffic are separated by no more than a Jersey barrier . Also, a number of overpasses have low clearance, especially railway overpasses. Long-term plans have been identified to expand the highway to between six and eight lanes across
4000-423: The loop. Back at the northwest corner, US 169 splits off to the north, leaving four routes concurrent with each other. There is a large interchange with Route 9 in the loop's northeastern corner. At that corner, I-29 ends, and US 71 joins. Once it leaves I-35, I-70 turns south, with interchanges to more roads. At the southeastern corner, I-70, US 40 , US 24 , and US 71 all exit
4080-484: The loop. I-70, US 40, and US 24 split off to the east, and US 71 continues south. I-670 ends at the alignment. Not long after they usurp that alignment, I-70/US 40/US 24 turn southeast. US 40 departs from I-70 at exit 7A. I-70 and US 24 then interchanges with I-435, the beltway around the Kansas City metropolitan area . US 24 departs from I-70 exit 8B and heads north following I-435. While passing through Kansas City, I-70
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#17327839668894160-523: The middle of the state. Tolling the Interstate has become a possible alternative, although the public does not support this idea. In May 2023, about $ 2.8 billion was allocated to widen the interstate throughout the entire state to at least three lanes in each direction. Dubbed as the MODOT’s Improve I-70 program, the project will be broken down in six segments and being construction work in Spring 2024;
4240-583: The military, agreed to extend the proposed route of I-70, but not to serve Salt Lake City; the military wanted to better connect Southern California with the Northeastern U.S. This led to I-70's constructed route through the San Rafael Swell terminating at Cove Fort. Many motorists include I-70 as part of their cross-country drives between New York City and Los Angeles (which are accessible to I-70 via other Interstates). Completed in 1992,
4320-608: The nickname for Callaway County . Through the 1920s and 30s numerous dance halls , restaurants , cafés , and hotels would come and go in Kingdom City. In 1965, Gasper's (which became a local landmark) opened for business. In 1970, the McCredie Post Office moved to Kingdom City and took the community's name. This was the same year Kingdom City incorporated as a village and included the former unincorporated community of McCredie. The Richland Christian Church
4400-452: The prairie, farmlands, and rolling hills of Kansas. This portion of I-70 was the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the Interstate Highway System. It is given the nickname "Main Street of Kansas", as the Interstate extends from the western border to the eastern border of the state, covering 424 miles (682 km) and passing through most of the state's principal cities in
4480-627: The process. As it finally enters the city of St. Louis, motorists encounter what are signed as the "Express Lanes", known by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) as the " reversible lanes ". Two lanes in the middle of the freeway are separated from the eastbound and westbound lanes by Jersey barriers . Due to traffic pattern changes caused by the I-64 reconstruction, the lanes travel eastbound all day. MoDOT regularly monitors traffic patterns of this stretch of I-70 and will adjust
4560-409: The process. In Salina , I-70 intersects with the north terminus of I-135 . In Topeka , I-70 intersects I-470 , twice. At the eastern intersection, the Kansas Turnpike merges, with I-70 becoming a toll road . This is one of only two sections of I-70 that are tolled. (The other is part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike .) I-70 carries this designation from Topeka to Kansas City, the eastern terminus of
4640-554: The rapidly growing suburb of Blue Springs , where the roadway narrows to four lanes (two each direction) at Route 7 . I-70 remains at this width until just west of the intersection with I-64 /US 40/ US 61 in Wentzville , over 170 miles (270 km) away. East of Blue Springs, I-70 takes on a rural highway as it leaves Jackson County . The highway remains this way for the next 100 miles (160 km), going through gently rolling terrain while it meets US 65 at
4720-653: The road was being built and huge numbers of workers were brought in to do the work, McCredie became a boom town , with future Kingdom City receiving its first gas station and a two-story hotel , which (however) burned down in 1930. Since the area had no name at the time the intersection was referred to only as the "Y", with people in Fulton wanting to name it "North Fulton" and the people in McCredie naming it "South McCredie". The Kingdom Oil Company, owned by B.P. (Bernard Parker) Beamer, suggested Kingdom City, in reflection of
4800-662: The route passes through the Eisenhower Tunnel , Glenwood Canyon, and the San Rafael Swell . The Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest point along the Interstate Highway System, with an elevation of 11,158 feet (3,401 m). I-70 begins at an interchange with I-15 near Cove Fort . Heading east, I-70 crosses between the Tushar and Pahvant ranges via Clear Creek Canyon and descends into the Sevier Valley , where I-70 serves Richfield , one of two towns of more than
4880-436: The route. The city of Fulton had hoped for US 40 to go from Columbia through Fulton and intersect US 54 in their city, but the final decision had the highways intersect in what would become Kingdom City, which was then just a rural farm and forested area south of McCredie . McCredie residents fought so hard for the highway that they staged a parade through the heart of Fulton with banners that read " 54-40 or Fight ". When
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#17327839668894960-432: The south, along with US 61 , which does not have a concurrency with I-70. In late 2009, the intersecting road was upgraded to Interstate standards along with the completion of the overhaul of I-64 . After this interchange, I-70 intersects two auxiliary routes, I-270 and I-170 . After passing several bedroom communities in north St. Louis County , I-70 enters the city limits of St. Louis. It turns east to cross
5040-466: The south. This two-mile (3.2 km) stretch of former I-70 is now an extension of I-44 . I-70 had been criticized for cutting off downtown from the Mississippi River waterfront particularly at the Gateway Arch. St. Louis constructed a $ 90-million (equivalent to $ 127 million in 2023) project to cover the highway (now I-44) by the arch. This was not the first controversy involving I-70 and
5120-689: The southeast, the exit number is 20 and, in the opposite direction, it is exit 15. I-70 was rerouted from the Poplar Street Bridge to the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge north of Downtown St. Louis, which opened in February 2014. I-70 passes through numerous county seats in Illinois, among them Vandalia , the state capital from 1818 to 1839. It runs concurrently with I-57 around Effingham and then proceeds east toward Indiana. I-70 enters Indiana just to
5200-624: The swell near Green River . From Green River to the Colorado state line, I-70 follows the southern edge of the Book Cliffs . Entering from Utah, I-70 descends into the Grand Valley , where it meets the Colorado River , which provides its path up the western slope of the Rocky Mountains . Here, I-70 serves the Grand Junction metropolitan area before traversing more mountainous terrain. The last section of I-70 to be completed
5280-423: The taller buildings a few blocks north near the Missouri River . Westbound I-670 is also designated Alternate I-70. Most of the Interstates in this loop are in their second mile, so all exits (no matter which Interstate the road carries) are numbered 2 and suffixed with every letter of the alphabet except for I, O, and Z, leading to the loop's nickname, the Alphabet Loop. The section of I-70 in Downtown Kansas City
5360-432: The turnpike. About halfway between Topeka and Kansas City , I-70 passes through Lawrence (home to the University of Kansas ). The tolled portion of the turnpike ends near Bonner Springs , just west of Kansas City. There is also a third auxiliary route in Topeka, I-335 , which runs from I-470 south to meet up with I-35 in the Flint Hills town of Emporia . Just past the Bonner Springs Toll Plaza, I-70 crosses I-435 for
5440-401: The village was 40 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 19.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.8% male and 49.2% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 121 people, 51 households, and 36 families living in the village. The population density
5520-408: The village. The population density was 71.1 inhabitants per square mile (27.5/km ). There were 55 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km ). The racial makeup of the village was 93.0% White , 6.3% African American , and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population. There were 49 households, of which 24.5% had children under
5600-422: The visages of Lucas Oil Stadium and the JW Marriott Indianapolis hotel, with the city's skyline as their backdrop, now dominate the view to the north from the freeway. After passing just to the south of the world headquarters for Eli Lilly and Company , I-70 and I-65 have a brief concurrency through the eastern side of Downtown Indianapolis . The junction points of these two major routes are known locally as
5680-443: The west of Terre Haute and then crosses the Wabash River before skirting the city's south side. After passing through miles of gently rolling terrain in rural west-central Indiana, the freeway approaches the major Indianapolis metropolitan area . The main entrance to Indianapolis International Airport was relocated to I-70's exit 68 on November 11, 2008. Upon nearing the central business district of Indiana's capital city,
5760-519: The work is expected to last about seven years. A March 2010 study of I-70 from the Kansas state line to the I-470 interchange identified several possible improvements, including expanding the freeway from four to eight lanes, adding high-occupancy vehicle or toll lanes, reconstructing the Truman Road interchange, and improving the curves at Jackson Avenue and Truman Road. Some novel ideas included
5840-411: Was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males. The median income for a household in the village was $ 35,417, and the median income for a family was $ 34,583. Males had a median income of $ 28,125 versus $ 17,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $ 16,978. None of the population and none of the families were below
5920-426: Was 89.3 inhabitants per square mile (34.5/km ). There were 54 housing units at an average density of 39.9 per square mile (15.4/km ). The racial makeup of the village was 90.91% White , 6.61% African American , 0.83% Native American , and 1.65% from two or more races. There were 51 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had
6000-542: Was initially envisioned to go through Downtown Pittsburgh but now goes south of it. Its originally planned route was later incorporated into I-376 , as well as parts of I-76 and I-79 . I-70 also overlaps I-79 near the Pittsburgh suburb of Washington for three miles (4.8 km). The 38 miles (61 km) of I-70 between Washington and New Stanton is a substandard section of the highway. This section of I-70 used to be Pennsylvania Route 71 (PA 71). It
6080-489: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Kingdom City is located along U.S. Route 54 approximately one half mile north of I-70 . McKinney Creek flows past the south edge of the community and Auxvasse Creek passes two miles to the north. The town of Auxvasse lies about five miles north along Route 54. The junction is planned to be upgraded to a roundabout configuration. Construction
6160-469: Was once designated Interstate 70S ( I-70S ). Uniquely, I-70 indirectly serves a branch of the Washington Metro at Shady Grove station via I-370 , which only connects to I-270. I-70 was planned to end at I-95 in Baltimore, but, due to local opposition, it was only built to MD 122 . The section east of I-695 is now MD 570 . Besides being the first Interstate to receive
6240-472: Was opened to traffic in 1970, it became the longest stretch of Interstate Highway with no services and the first highway in the U.S. built over a completely new route since the Alaska Highway . It also became the longest piece of Interstate Highway to be opened at one time. Although opened in 1970, this section was not formally complete until 1990, when a second steel arch bridge spanning Eagle Canyon
6320-484: Was opened to traffic. Since I-70's construction, the swell has been noted for its desolate beauty. The swell has since been nominated for national park or national monument status on multiple occasions. If the swell is granted this status, it arguably would be the first time a national park owes its existence to an Interstate Highway. Most of the exits in this span are rest areas, brake check areas, and runaway truck ramps with few traditional freeway exits. I-70 exits
6400-405: Was the 15-mile (24 km) Glenwood Canyon . This stretch was completed in 1992 and was an engineering marvel due to the extremely difficult terrain and narrow space in the canyon , which requires corners that are sharper than normal Interstate standards . Construction was delayed for many years due to environmental concerns. The difficulties in building the road in the canyon were compounded by
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