Safety improvements coming to I-70/U.S. 63 connector | Mid-Missouri News | komu.com

KOMU 8 Reporter

As construction begins on the new I-70/U.S. 63 connector, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) approved a sweeping multi-million dollar investment in pedestrian access for the connector and surrounding area - something which safety advocates say is much-needed.

MoDOT approved a $2,032,5000 agreement with the City of Columbia in September to build new sidewalks, expand planned sidewalks, and add pedestrian crossings along the connector and Clark Lane.

MoDOT and Columbia will split the cost, according to John Oganac, a city spokesperson. The city will use revenue from a quarter-cent sales tax, which voters approved an extension of in August, to pay for its portion of the agreement.

"You know there's always more that can be done, right?" said Elke Boyd, chair of Columbia's Bicycle/Pedestrian Commission. "But the way things are currently, I'm personally very happy."

There were seven deadly crashes involving pedestrians in the area around the connector between 2017 and 2023, according to previous KOMU 8 reporting. There were six serious crashes involving pedestrians in that same period, according to Krista Shouse-Jones, Vision Zero coordinator. Vision Zero works to achieve zero traffic deaths or serious injuries on Columbia's roadways, according to its website.

The connector is a crucial link which connects the city's northeast neighborhoods to other areas of the city. The area around the connector and Clark Lane is also home to businesses and medical centers. There is a cluster of medical facilities along Keene Street, just east of the connector.

But there is a noticeable lack of pedestrian infrastructure. The connector bridge which crosses I-70 has no sidewalks. There is no crosswalk at the south section of the bridge. Clark Lane has multiple sidewalk gaps east and west of the connector.

There is still a significant amount of pedestrian traffic around the connector, according to Allison Anderson, an engineering manager with the city. People without a car who must go to medical appointments, grocery stores, or work in the area, often have no choice but to walk in the road next to traffic.

"We got a lot of pedestrians, especially in the connector area," Anderson said. "Having a complete sidewalk system is very beneficial for them, you know, because there's so much traffic there."

KOMU 8 spotted multiple pedestrians walking along the side of the road Thursday afternoon. Nora French lives in an apartment along Broadway just across from the Conley Road shopping center. French said she regularly crosses the south side of the connector - across six lanes of traffic - to get to medical appointments when she can't take the bus.

"It's kind of a risky intersection to cross. It's always really busy," French said. "Well I mean, it would be nice if there was a crosswalk with a button."

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The agreement includes the following projects:

- Adding a sidewalk to both sides of the connector bridge. MoDOT's original plan only included a sidewalk on the west side.

- Adding a sidewalk to both sides of the St. Charles Road bridge. MoDOT's original plan only included a sidewalk on the west side.

- Expanding the planned sidewalks from six feet to eight feet.

- Pedestrian signal at the south side of the connector bridge, connecting I-70 Drive Southeast with Conley Road.

- Filling in sidewalk gaps on the north side of Clark Lane west of the connector.

- Filling in sidewalk gaps on the north side of Clark Lane between Hanover Boulevard and Student Transportation of America.

"[MoDOT] is excited about the approved cost share application last month with the City of Columbia," Eric Kopinski, Improve I-70 program director told KOMU 8 in an email. "This will allow for additional pedestrian improvements at the I-70 and US 63 interchange and at I-70 and St. Charles Interchange."

MoDOT's original plan for the connector included some pedestrian safety improvements, including a sidewalk on the west side of the connector and St. Charles Road bridge. But safety advocates like Boyd pushed for more to be done, including adding sidewalks on both sides of the bridges.

Columbia prefers to have sidewalks on both sides of a roadway, Anderson said, as part of its Complete Streets policy, which seeks to bolster pedestrian safety.

The agreement still needs to be finalized, according to Kopinski. The Columbia City Council must approve the agreement, which could happen by the end of November, Anderson said.

To report an error or typo, email [email protected].

KOMU 8 Reporter

Currently in Columbia