Interstate 70 Business (Columbia, Missouri)

Loop 70 starts at exit 125 on I-70/US 40 in Columbia. From this interchange, it runs east-southeasterly along a four-lane thoroughfare on the northern side of Columbia. The roadway is bounded by several businesses, including car dealerships and fast food restaurants. Loop 70 intersects Route 163 (Providence Road) near David H. Hickman High School. At the intersection with Range Line Street, Route 763 merges in from the north, and the two highways run concurrently for three blocks. Route 763 turns southward at the intersection with North College Avenue. Loop 70 intersects another highway, Supplemental Route B, on the eastern side of its routing before it reaches a partial interchange with I-70/US 40 near Hinkson Creek. This interchange used to allow eastbound traffic onto eastbound I-70/US 40, but in 2018 the route was rerouted onto East Boulevard and over Hinkson Creek before reaching Conley Road near the I-70 connector. Now exit 128 only allows westbound I-70/US 40 traffic to enter westbound Loop 70.[2][3]

The entire route is in Columbia, Boone County.

mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.000– 0.141	0.000– 0.227	I-70 / US 40 – Kansas City, St. Louis	Exit 125 on I-70
1.031	1.659	Route 163 (Providence Road)
1.525	2.454	Route 763 north (Range Line Street)	Western end of Route 763 concurrency
1.715	2.760	Route 763 south (North College Avenue)	Eastern end of Route 763 concurrency
2.233	3.594	Route B north (Paris Road)
2.874	4.625	I-70 east / US 40	Access to I-70 east and from I-70 west only at exit 128
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

The business loop is the basis for community improvement district (CID) that was created by a 5–2 vote of the Columbia City Council in April 2015.[4] Planners intended to pass a half-cent sales tax in order to pay off significant debt and fund development projects,[5] and drew up a gerrymandered district devoid of residents in order to avoid a requirement of Missouri state law which requires decisions to impose a sales tax to be left to voters residing in the district. However, due to an error in planning, a single person, 23-year-old college student Jen Henderson, resides in the district.[4]

The CID's director, Carrie Gartner, called the situation an "existential crisis" for the project, as it leaves the question of enacting the sales tax up to a single voter, adding "It's the law. It's legal. But [we're] not sure it's the way we want to go."[6] Henderson says that Gartner approached her in June to ask her to withdraw her voting registration, but she refused, describing this as "manipulative" and citing concerns about taxing the food and necessities of low-income people.[4] Later an investigation by a local media source revealed 13 additional voters that in fact resided within the district.[7]

Gartner later suggested that the election might not be held.[5] The CID may have other options, including changing the boundaries of the district to exclude Henderson's residence, or dissolving it.[5]

• Business Loop Interstate 70 Columbia photos at BillBurmaster.com