Interstate 229 Missouri

Interstate 229 Missouri
St. Joseph, MO ↔ Amazonia, MO•14.97 miles

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.

I-229 Double Deck Freeway - St. Joseph, MO
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
I-229 south on the Double Decker Bridge - St. Joseph, MO
I-229 south at the Felix Street off-ramp to Downtown St. Joseph on the Double Decker Bridge. 11/03/16

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.

Mileage by State

Missouri14.97 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

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

St. Joseph, MO - 1975
The 1975 Missouri Official Highway Map shows a 2.7-mile spur of I-229 open to traffic. A 1970 Missouri map shows this southernmost segment open to traffic.
St. Joseph, MO - 1983
Interstate 229 was extended north to the St. Joseph Avenue wye interchange on the 1983-84 Missouri Official Highway Map. The freeway along I-229 winding north from the U.S. 59 (St. Joseph Avenue) split was constructed through bluffs rising from the Missouri River.

North End Interstate 29 U.S. 59 U.S. 71 ‐ Amazonia, MO

Interstate 229 U.S. 59 North at Interstate 29 U.S. 71

I-229 north at I-29/US 59-71 - Savannah, MO

Interstate 229 rises from Dillon Creek by agricultural areas one mile ahead of Exits 14 A/B/C with I-29 and U.S. 59-71 north. 02/20/20

I-229 north at I-29/US 59-71 - Savannah, MO I-229 north at I-29/US 59-71 - Savannah, MO I-229 north at I-29/US 59-71 - Savannah, MO I-229 north at I-29/US 59-71 - Savannah, MO I-229 north at I-29/US 59-71 - Savannah, MO

Interstate 29 U.S. 59 U.S. 71 North at Interstate 229

I-29/US 59-71 north at I-229 - Savannah, MO

One mile south from the return of Interstate 229 north from St. Joseph on I-29. 11/03/16

I-29/US 59-71 north at I-229 - Savannah, MO I-29/US 59-71 north at I-229 - Savannah, MO I-29 north at I-229 - Savannah, MO

Interstate 29 South at Interstate 229 Interstate 29U.S. 59 U.S. 71

I-29 south at I-229/US 59-71 - Amazonia, MO

U.S. 59/71 travel a freeway south from the Andrews County seat of Savannah that directly transitions onto Interstate 229 south at forthcoming Exit 56. 06/18/15

I-29 south at I-229/US 59-71 - Amazonia, MO I-29 south at I-229/US 59-71 - Amazonia, MO I-29 south at I-229/US 59-71 - Amazonia, MO

U.S. 59 U.S. 71 South at Interstate 29 Interstate 229

US 59/71 south at I-29/229 - Savannah, MO

U.S. 59/71 traverse hilly terrain south from Hopkins Creek to the unnumbered interchange with I-29 and I-229. 06/18/15

US 59/71 south at I-29/229 - Savannah, MO US 59/71 south at I-29/229 - Savannah, MO US 59/71 south at I-29/229 - Savannah, MO US 59/71 south at I-29/229 - 2006 US 59/71 south at I-29/229 - 2006

South End Interstate 29 U.S. 71 ‐ St. Joseph, MO

Interstate 229 South at Interstate 29 U.S. 71

I-229 south at I-29/US 71 - St. Joseph, MO

The final three ramps from Interstate 229 south are unnumbered. Departing first is the exit for Highway A (40th Street) to the south suburbs of St. Joseph. 06/18/15

I-229 south at I-29/US 71 - St. Joseph, MO I-229 south at I-29/US 71 - St. Joseph, MO

Interstate 29 U.S. 71 North at Interstate 229

I-29/US 71 north at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO

I-29/U.S. 71 traverse a series of rural hills by the Pigeon Hill Conservation Area ahead of Interstate 229 and the St. Joseph area. 02/20/20

I-29/US 71 north at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO I-29/US 71 north at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO I-29/US 71 north at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO I-29/US 71 north at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO

Interstate 29 U.S. 71 South at Interstate 229

I-29/US 71 south at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO

I-29/U.S. 71 advance south from U.S. 169 and the end of Business Loop I-29 to a directional T interchange (Exit 43) with Interstate 229 leading back north to St. Joseph. Photo by Joseph Barnes (08/14/16).

I-29/US 71 south at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO I-29/US 71 south at I-229 - St. Joseph, MO

References

  1. "What's the future of the double-decker?" St. Joseph News-Press (MO), July 6, 2016.
  2. "MoDOT finds no evidence of falling I-229 concrete." St. Joseph News-Press (MO), June 4, 2015.
  3. "Interstates celebrate golden anniversary Last section of I-29 opened in July 1976 " St. Joseph News-Press (MO), June 26, 2006.
Updated November 4, 2020