Interstate 72 in Missouri
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In the state of Missouri, Interstate 72 is an Interstate highway that runs east from Hannibal to the Mississippi River. Presently, this is a distance of 4 miles (6 km).
[edit] Route description
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This article contains information about a planned or expected future road. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the road's construction and/or completion approaches and more information becomes available. |
The concept of I-72 across Missouri was to create the Kansas City - Chicago Expressway, a rural 4-lane route between Kansas City, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois. This would reduce the amount of through traffic in the St. Louis, Des Moines, and Quad Cities metropolitan areas.
The Missouri portion of this route is designated as part of High Priority Corridor 61.
The first (and only) exit west of the Mississippi River in Hannibal, Missouri is Exit 157 (MO 79). Based on this mile marker, the future western terminus of I-72 would be at Cameron, Missouri at the intersection with I-35.
I-72 continues west of Hannibal, Missouri as US 36. In 2004, US 36 was upgraded to a 4-lane expressway between US 61 and US 24 (7 miles). Also, an interchange with MO 15 was installed in Shelbina, Missouri. Four miles east of Macon, Missouri, US 36 resumes 4-lane expressway status US 36 is now 4-lane (completed in Dec 2006) the rest of the way into Saint Joseph, Missouri.
[edit] History
In August 1957, Caltrans proposed I-72 for what is now I-580, but AASHTO denied the request. The number I-5W was eventually approved on November 10, 1958. [1] [2]
On August 3, 2005, residents of Macon, Marion, Monroe, Shelby, and Ralls counties approved Proposition 36B, which excludes Ralls County from the Transportation Development District and allows for the construction of a 4-lane US 36 to be constructed without Ralls County's participation. The Proposition passed 66 percent to 34 percent and passed by a majority in all 5 counties. Road construction to complete the 52 miles between Hannibal and Macon will begin in 2007, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2010. This means US 36 will be a 4-lane expressway across Missouri in 2011.
