The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announces the Highway 71 J-Turn intersection south of Maryville is open.
A MoDOT news release also says northbound lanes of 71 are open while southbound 71 remains one lane until the project is completed in late November.
MoDOT news release:
Leavenworth Excavating & Equipment Company, Inc., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, opened the newly constructed Nodaway County U.S. Route 71 J-turn intersection near 340th Street this afternoon, Friday, Oct. 23.
With a J-turn, motorists will no longer cross multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic. Drivers coming from 340th Street will turn right onto U.S. Route 71 in the same direction as traffic, merge into the passing lane, and then make a U-turn in the direction they intend to travel. To learn more about J-turns, visit: www.modot.org/j-turns.
Traffic Impacts: Southbound U.S. Route 71 will be narrowed to one lane in the passing lane for the remaining stage of work surrounding the J-turn intersection. An 11-foot width restriction will be in place. Northbound U.S. Route 71 will have both driving and passing lanes open.
MoDOT is administering this project in partnership with Evergy, Inc. to improve the intersection of U.S. Route 71 and 340th Street to accommodate an increase of approximately 400 vehicles per day during the construction of their new natural gas plant.
The project is expected to be completed by late November 2026.
