Interstate 670 (Kansas–Missouri)

Interstate 670 marker

Interstate 670
Jay B. Dillingham Freeway
I-670 highlighted in red
Route information
Length 2.81 mi[1] (4.52 km)
Existed 1968 – present
Major junctions
West end I-70 / US-24 / US-40 / US-69 / US-169 in Kansas City, KS
  I-35 in Kansas City, MO
East end I-70 / US 40 / US 71 in Kansas City, MO
Location
States Kansas, Missouri
Counties KS: Wyandotte; MO: Jackson
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System

← I-635KSK-1 →
← I-635MORoute 740 →

Interstate 670 (abbreviated I-670) is a 2.81 mile (4.52 km) connector highway between I-70 in Kansas City, Kansas and I-70 in Kansas City, Missouri. The highway provides a more direct route through downtown Kansas City than the older mainline I-70, and avoids the sharp turn (and reduced speed limit) of the latter at the west end of the Intercity Viaduct. I-670 is also designated Alternate Interstate 70, one of the few interstates to be designated as an alternate. Interstate 670 also makes up the south side of Kansas City's downtown freeway loop, where it passes under the southern half of Bartle Hall Convention Center.

The road crosses the Kansas River and the West Bottoms, the former location of the Kansas City Stockyards, on the I-670 Viaduct. The leg of the highway west of I-35 has Kansas Department of Transportation signs proclaiming it the Jay B. Dillingham Freeway[2] although maps list it as the Jay B. Dillingham Memorial Highway.[3] Dillingham was a former president of the Stockyards.

Route description

I-670 is the multi-lane road going to the right of downtown Kansas City across the West Bottoms by the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. I-70 goes to the left of downtown Kansas City close to the bend in the Missouri River

The freeway begins with ramps from I-70 meeting to form I-670 just before a bridge over the Kansas River, which is located just south of the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. I-70 at that point comprises U.S. Route 24, U.S. Route 40, and U.S. Route 169. The freeway then crosses the Kansas–Missouri state line and enters Kansas City, Missouri. The road then interchanges with Interstate 35 before meeting its terminus at I-70. The freeway continues as I-70.[4]

History

Looking westbound on I-670 passing below the Bartle Hall Convention Center at night.

The freeway was not part of the original planned freeways around Kansas City in 1955.[5] The section east of the I-35 interchange was built first and finished in 1968.[6][7] The western portion was not planned until 1971, and was not finished until several years later.[8][9] By 1987, the freeway was extended slightly westward in the downtown Kansas area,[10][11] but was not fully extended to I-70 until 1991, when it was fully opened.[12][13]

A portion of the highway near downtown Kansas City, Missouri was closed on May 20, 1997, in order to film the music video for the U2 song "Last Night on Earth". The band reimbursed the Kansas City Police Department for all traffic control and security costs. A permit issued by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department (the predecessor to MoDOT) stated the closure "will enhance and promote the notoriety of...Kansas City's skyline." Mike Right, vice-president of public affairs for the American Automobile Association Auto Club of Missouri, told the Kansas City Star "I can't believe the stupidity of it. They're going to close down an interstate highway that serves downtown Kansas City for a...music video? I've never heard of such a thing."[14]

Exit list

StateCountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
KansasWyandotteKansas City0.000.00 I-70 / US-24 / US-40 west / US-69 south – TopekaI-70 exit 421B
1ACentral AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Kansas River bridge
 
0.000
0.000		Kansas–Missouri state line
MissouriJacksonKansas City1BGenesee Street / Wyoming Street – Kemper Arena
2T I-35 south – WichitaI-35 exit 2U
I-35 north / 12th StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-35 exit 2U
2SBroadwayWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
2RCentral Street – DowntownEastbound exit only
2QTruman Road / McGee StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
2.814.522P13th Street – Downtown Kansas CityWestbound exit only
2N I-70 west / US 71 north to I-29 / I-35 north – St. Joseph, Des MoinesEastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-70 exit 2L
2M US 71 south – JoplinEastbound exit and westbound entrance
3AThe PaseoEastbound exit only
I-70 / US 40 east – St. LouisI-70 exit 2L
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

  • Kansas portal
  • Missouri portal
  • U.S. Roads portal

References

  1. ↑ Staff (October 31, 2001). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  2. ↑ Kansas State Legislature. "Statute 68-1035: Designation of part of interstate highway 670 as the Dillingham freeway". Kansas Statutes. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ Google (June 8, 2009). "Interstate 670 (Kansas–Missouri)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  4. ↑ Microsoft; Nokia (January 26, 2011). "I-670" (Map). Bing Maps. Microsoft. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  5. ↑ General Location of National System of Interstate Highways Including All Additional Routes at Urban Areas (Map). Bureau of Public Roads. September 1955. Kansas City, Missouri inset. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  6. ↑ Missouri State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. 1968. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. 1968. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ Missouri State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. 1971. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  9. ↑ Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. 1971. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  10. ↑ Missouri State Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1987–88 ed.). Missouri Department of Transportation. 1987. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  11. ↑ Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. 1987. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  12. ↑ Missouri State Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1991–92 ed.). Missouri Department of Transportation. 1991. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  13. ↑ Kansas State Highway Map (Map) (1991–92 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. 1991. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  14. ↑ Heider, Timothy (May 20, 1997). "Filming of Music Video Will Shut Down I-670 Downtown for Several Hours Tuesday". The Kansas City Star. Reproduced by @U2. Accessed November 23, 2013.

Route map:

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