Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation that will further position Missouri as a national – and global – logistics leader. At ceremonial signing events in Columbia and Oak Grove on August 15, 2023, Gov. Parson signed HB 4, an appropriations bill which includes $2.8 billion to expand I-70 to three lanes across the entire state.
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry strongly supported this transformational investment in Missouri’s major east-west artery, which is vital to the global supply chains for many industries.
“Missouri’s central location puts us within easy reach of many U.S. households, manufacturing establishments and the agricultural heartland. This investment represents a huge step toward helping our state make the most of its location and truly become a logistics hub for the Midwest and North America,” said Dan Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber. “We thank Gov. Mike Parson for being a steadfast champion for infrastructure funding. We also thank Sen. Lincoln Hough for his visionary leadership as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and spearheading this monumental investment in our transportation system.”
In the Missouri Chamber’s annual survey of CEOs and business leaders, 84 percent of respondents supported leveraging state and federal funds to increase I-70 capacity.
“Gov. Parson and Sen. Hough’s priorities align with what we have been hearing from employers across the state,” Mehan said. “We applaud them for their forward-thinking efforts to bring the type of infrastructure improvements that will have an impact for years to come.”