For more information, contact Program Delivery Outreach Coordinator Bob Brendel, (573) 751-8717.

October 25, 2005 – For immediate releaseNo. 00X

Improve I-70 Public Hearings Scheduled in Odessa, Blue

Springs For Comment on Draft Environmental Assessment

Document Available for Review Online and at Public Offices

JEFFERSON CITY – Public hearings for a Draft Environmental Assessment that describes how the Missouri Department of Transportation could rebuild and expand Interstate 70 between Independence and Odessa will be held Nov. 29 in Odessa and Nov. 30 in Blue Springs.

MoDOT’s study of the 200-mile I-70 corridor between Independence and Lake St. Louis is divided into seven sections. This one – known as Section 1 – begins at the I-470/I-70 interchange and extends eastward to the Route 131 interchange at Odessa.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a detailed document that describes the proposed project, the existing natural, man-made, social and economic environment, and the project’s known and anticipated impacts on those environments. This includes items such as the effect on streams, wetlands, wildlife, land use, noise, historic properties, public lands, etc. Also included is an analysis of alternatives that might avoid some or all of the adverse environmental effects and of measures that minimize unavoidable impact.

MoDOT’s concept for the future I-70 calls for a minimum of six lanes across the state, and for a reconstruction of the pavement from the ground up. All interchanges would also need to be reconstructed. The draft EA for this 24-mile section outlines where widening would occur to the north or south of the existing lanes and the configuration of reconstructed interchanges.

– more –

There is no funding currently available to construct the project.

Public hearings are part of the review period that opens on October 26 and closes December 12. The open house hearing on Nov. 29 will be held from 4-7 p.m. at the Odessa Community Building, 601 W. Main, in Odessa. The open house hearing on Nov. 30 will be held from 4-7 p.m. at Vesper Hall, 400 NW Vesper Street, in Blue Springs.

Displays will also be available at the hearing from the adjoining I-70 section – Section 2, which stretches from just east of Odessa to just west of Boonville.

Section 1’s Draft EA has also been distributed to the following public viewing locations:

MoDOT, Central Office, 105 West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO

MoDOT District 4 Office, 600 NE Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit, MO

Kansas City Central Library, 14 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO

Independence Courthouse, 111 E. Maple Avenue, Independence, MO – UPDATED ADDRESS

Independence Library, 137 E. 35th Street, Independence, MO

Blue Springs Library, 850 NW Hunter Drive, Blue Springs, MO

Grain Valley Library, 110 Front Street, Grain Valley, MO

Oak Grove Library, 2320 S. Broadway, Oak Grove, MO

Odessa Library, 107 W. Macon Street, Odessa, MO

An electronic version of the document is available at the study Web site, which is Visitors to the Web site can view all or specific parts of the document and make instant comments.

Following public review, revisions will be made to the draft EA and a final version will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration for a finding of no significant impact. Once FHWA approves the EA and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission concurs, MoDOT will be positioned to move forward with the project whenever funding becomes available.

More information on the Improve I-70 studies is available on the study’s Web site and toll-free hotline (800-590-0066).

– 30 –