Lochmueller Group was honored to support the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) in its ambitious Improve I-70 Program, which aims to widen and rehabilitate approximately 200 miles of interstate between Blue Springs and Wentzville. Building on Tier I and Tier II Environmental Studies conducted in the early 2000s, the program was developed as seven interconnected segments, with the first project let in June 2024.
To assist MoDOT in meeting cultural resources requirements, Lochmueller provided staff augmentation services through the Historic Preservation Section. Our qualified senior archaeologists and architectural historians tracked cultural resource commitments, reviewed surveys and reports prior to submission to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and drafted determinations of eligibility, research designs, and archaeological data recovery plans. The team also prepared SHPO cover letters, coordinated with design and environmental teams, attended meetings, and supported tribal consultation efforts through communications with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Additional responsibilities included responding to Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) requests and preparing year-end summaries for Programmatic Agreements under Section 106.
We are grateful to MoDOT and our partners for the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of cultural resources along one of Missouri’s most vital transportation corridors.
