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Two states recently broke ground on multimillion-dollar projects to improve I-70.
Crews in Missouri are currently working on an I-70 extension project from Warrenton to Wentzville, while a joint venture in Kansas is overseeing the I-70 Polk-Quincy Viaduct project along a 2.5-mile stretch of the highway from Macvicar Avenue to 6th Avenue and local roadways in Topeka.
The work contract for Missouri’s project is worth $600 million: the largest single contract in the Missouri Department of Transportation’s history. This is the second project within MoDOT’s Improve I-70 Program and will see a third lane constructed in each direction from Warrenton to I-64 in Wentzville and the replacement of the existing I-70 lanes with new full-depth concrete pavement. A third lane of travel to eastbound and westbound I-64 between I-70 and Route K will also be added.
The project is expected to be completed in 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.”
The I-70 Polk-Quincy Viaduct project is being overseen by Bettis Koss Construction, a JV of Topeka-based Bettis Asphalt & Construction and Koss Construction Co. This $239 million project is being funded from the Kansas DOT’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, a 10-year, nearly $10 billion investment with the goal of improving Kansas’ transportation infrastructure.
The aging viaduct is being replaced to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve connectivity to surrounding communities, according to the project page. Construction is underway and expected to continue through 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.”
The State of America’s Transit Infrastructure
Investments such as those being made in Kansas and Missouri are playing a huge part in improving America’s road infrastructure.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recognized this in awarding America’s road infrastructure a D+ grade in its 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. While that’s by no means a stellar grade, it is an improvement from the D that the category received in the ASCE’s 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.”
GPRS 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.
What can we help you visualize?
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of informational output is provided when GPRS conducts a utility locate?
Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.
GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor.
Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.
What types of concrete scanning does GPRS offer?
GPRS provides two specific but different scanning services: elevated concrete slab scanning and concrete slab-on-grade locating. Elevated concrete slab scanning involves detecting embedded electrical conduits, rebar, post-tension cables, and more before core drilling a hole through the slab. Performing a concrete slab-on-grade locating service typically involves scanning a trench line for conduits before conducting saw cutting and trenching to install a sanitary pipe, water line, or something similar.
