Interstate 229 Missouri
Overview
Interstate 229 forms an urban loop west from I-29 through the city of St. Joseph. The freeway carries four overall lanes with rural stretches leading through Buchanan County to the south and Andrew County to the north. Through Downtown and along the Missouri Riverfront, I-229 combines with U.S. 59 along a double deck freeway.
2015 traffic counts recorded by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) peaked at 16,810 vehicles per day (vpd) east of Exit 1 D (Route 752), while the roadway north of Exit 11 (Highway K) was lightly traveled with just 4,646 vpd. St. Joseph is also served by a business loop from Interstate 29 along a combination of surface streets and shared alignments with U.S. 59 and U.S. 169.
Flyovers join the double deck freeway with Downtown St. Joseph as I-229/U.S. 59 travel between railroad lines and the St. Joseph Riverwalk. 06/18/15
An emergency closure of the double deck section of I-229 followed reports of falling debris recorded on June 4, 2015.2 The aging structure and increasing repair costs to maintain it have engineers evaluating the future of the route. A 2016 estimate for a major rehabilitation of the bridge was about $50 million. If completed, the work would extend the lifespan of the elevated structure by 20 to 25 years. An alternative discussed by city leaders, highway engineers and residents involves replacing the freeway with an at-grade parkway. Costing less to maintain, the non-freeway design might also open up riverfront areas for redevelopment.3
Originally planned for a 16 to 18 month period, a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) study with public input considers an array of alternatives for the future of Interstate 229 through St. Joseph. Options range from retaining the existing Double Decker Bridge, replacing it with a new elevated structure, removing it and partitioning I-229 into separate spurs into Downtown, and replacing I-229 with an at-grade boulevard or a parkway option with roundabouts. Other options considered upgrading existing streets through Downtown with the elevated structure demolished.
History
Lobbying efforts from the publisher of the News-Press, Henry D. Bradley and others pushed for Interstate 229 through St. Joseph. The route was intended to draw traffic back into St. Joseph that was otherwise bypassing the city to the east along I-29. Land acquisition difficulties led to the double deck design through the Downtown area as a way to complete the route.1
Interstate 229 opened initially from I-29 south of St. Joseph to Missouri Route 371 (S 22nd Street) by 1970. Costing $20 million, the double deck section of I-229 was built in phases between 1977 and 1986. A weather-damaged portion of the viaduct was completed in 1979.2,3
Route Information
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
A 1970 Missouri map shows this southernmost segment open to traffic.
The I-229 freeway winding north from the U.S. 59 (St. Joseph Avenue) split was constructed through bluffs rising from the Missouri River.
North End
– Amazonia, Missouri
North at
Exit 14B represents the I-229 northbound mainline transition to U.S. 59/71. U.S. 59/71 split with I-29 north to bypass Savannah. U.S. 71 advances northward from there to the Nodaway County seat of Maryville while U.S. 59 turns west to combine with Interstate 29 across the Nodaway River to Oregon. 02/20/20
North at
South at
South at

Photo by Jeff Morrison (08/21/06).
South End
– St. Joseph, Missouri
South at
North at
South at
Sources:
- “What’s the future of the double-decker?” St. Joseph News-Press (MO), July 6, 2016.
- “MoDOT finds no evidence of falling I-229 concrete.” St. Joseph News-Press (MO), June 4, 2015.
- “Interstates celebrate golden anniversary Last section of I-29 opened in July 1976 ” St. Joseph News-Press (MO), June 26, 2006.
Page updated November 4, 2020.