KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A stretch of Interstate 70 is closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews fix bridges as part of a new I-70, 435 interchange near Kauffman Stadium.
The detours will only last during the weekend but have many drivers, like Jacob Finan, frustrated.
“It's really crowded,” Finan said. “It was already crowded on I-70 -- I noticed that, but now it’s even worse on this road.”
The detour added several minutes to Finan’s commute.
"I was taking I-70 just trying to get to work,” he said. “I mean, I’m already running late for work, I let my boss know, so I’m just here taking Highway 40 as a detour, and it’s just all kinds of traffic, all kinds of backed up.”
Other drivers like Alayna Walker said the clogged roads create more safety hazards.
"It’s so hectic, it’s crazy,” Walker said. “People, like, press their brakes really hard, and they don’t pay attention. They’re always on their phones looking around trying to see what everyone else is doing and, you know, they basically cause accidents.”
But for businesses along the route, it’s not all bad. Dixon’s Chili in Independence has seen an increase in business.
"We’ve had a lot of people come in and want to try it, like, ‘Oh, I saw this,’” server Toni Morain said. “It’s helped a little.”
The congestion on the roads, however, will only last a couple days.
"It’s kind of an inconvenience, but I’m not going to complain about it because they’re getting the highways right,” said driver Fred Manor, “and we need that getting the bridges done and that’s excellent.”
Construction crew are expected to wrap up at 5 a.m. Monday before the morning rush hour on Monday at 5 a.m.
