O’Fallon Hosts Open House to Talk I-70, Highways K and M Interchange Improvements

City officials are hoping to improve the interchange at Interstate 70 and Highways K and M and they want to hear from local residents and business owners. 

The city is hosting an open house on Wednesday at from 4-7 p.m. to share plans for improvements to the intersection. 

Displays showing the results of the I-70 Interchange Concept Study Project will be posted along with design options . Representatives from the engineering firm George Butler and Associates and city staff will also be available to answer questions.

Managing Director of Public Works Steve Bender said one of the main problems at the intersection is the congestion, which will continue to increase traffic in the future. 

“Projected traffic delays at this intersection in the year 2030 are expected to be double of what they are today if nothing is done to the intersection,” he said. “While there are numerous problems at this interchange, one of the major ones is the north side where there are two traffic signals terribly close to each other.”

Bender said intersections do not function properly when they are too close together. He added another issue with the intersection, is the access on East and West Terra across Highways K and M is restricted because of the heavy traffic.

City officials are waiting to hear from residents and business owners before evaluating the options and deciding on the preferred plan for the project.

Funding for road projects typically comes from federal, state and county sources. Bender said once the city has the results of the study the city will apply for funding for the project.